Worldwide, there is an increase in ecosystem distress syndromes matched by a corresponding increase in human distress syndromes. The specific role played by global-scale environmental challenges to 'sense of place' and identity will be explored in the future development of the concept of solastalgia.

The study aimed to validate the Environmental Distress Scale (EDS), a new index of the bio-psychosocial cost of ecosystem disturbance. Informed by qualitative fieldwork in the open-cut mining area of AustraliaÕs Upper Hunter Valley, the EDS combines dimensions of hazard perception, threat appraisal, felt impact of changes, ''solastalgia'' (loss of solace), and environmental action. EDS discriminant validity was tested by randomly mailing the instrument to Upper Hunter residents living in a high disturbance open-cut mining areaand to a comparable sample in a nearby farming area; 203 respondents returned the survey (41% response rate).As predicted, the high disturbance group had significantly higher environmental distress scores across all six EDS subscales, including solastalgia. Psychometric analyses found the EDS subscales were highly intercorrelated (r = 0.36-0.83), and they demonstrated both strong internal consistency reliability (CronbachÕs alpha = 0.79-0.96) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.67-0.73). Descriptively, the high disturbance group experienced greater exposure to dust, landscape changes, vibrations, loss of flora and fauna, and building damage, as well as greater fear of asthma and other physical illnesses due to local pollution. The EDS successfully measured and validated AlbrechtÕs innovative concept of ''solastalgia''-the sense of distress people experience when valued environments are negatively transformed. While the EDS addresses the power and mining industries, it can be adapted as a general tool to appraise the distress arising from peopleÕs lived experience of the desolation of their home and environment. Ideally, it can be used as an aid for those working to ameliorate that distress and restore ecosystem health.

The ethical arguments which underpin the call for interdisciplinary collaboration are analysed. In particular, the concept of 'teamwork' is considered as well as the organisational, professional, personal and cultural obstacles that constitute the barriers to the effective development of interdisciplinary relationships.

This article presents the theory and method informing an ongoing study of environmental change and human distress in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The nature of environmental change in the Upper Hunter landscape over the past two centuries is first described, followed by the preliminary results of a long-term study that aims to investigate the nature of residents' understanding of, and responses to, environmental change. Data from in-depth interviews found that the transformation of the environment from mining and power station activities was associated with significant expressions of distress linked to negative changes to interviewees' sense of place, well-being, and control. A new concept, ''solastalgia,'' is introduced to help explain the relationship between ecosystem health, human health, and powerlessness. We claim that solastalgia, as opposed to nostalgia, is a type of homesickness (distress) that one gets when one is still ''at home.'' Future research will aim to validate a questionnaire to test the hypothesis that environmental distress is associated with levels of depression, quality of life, and rates of stress-related disease, as well as activism and environmental rehabilitation.

The authors describe environmental injustice from air pollution in the Upper Hunter, Australia and analyse the inaction of state authorities in addressing residents' health concerns. Obstacles blocking public air monitoring and a health study include: the interdependence of state government and corporations in reaping the economic benefits of coal production; lack of political will and regulatory inertia; and study design and measurement issues. We analyse mining and coal-related air pollution in Bourdieu's (1989) terms as a social field; residents, civil society and local government groups struggle with corporations and government over the burden of imposed health risk caused by air pollution.