Abstract
Introduction: The regional industrial park (IP) we report consists of I 7
chemical plants and the all-country industrial toxic waste site. The study
objective was to evaluate alleged effects of the IP emissions on health indicators of the Bedouin population exposed to the IP for approximately 25
years. Methods: Ecological study for the period over 1995-2000 years
included the entire regional Bedouin population stratified by sex, age and
type of locality (permanent localities and tribal amassments ). As a surrogate
measurement of exposure we used the distance ( <1 0 km, between I 0 and 15
km and> 20 km), and the wind direction from the IP. Data on health indicators were collected from: emergency room and hospitalization files of the
regional medical center. Indirect age adjustment for emergency room visits
(SER) and hospitalizations (SHR), Pearson correlation, multivariate linear
and logistic regressions were employed. Results: For the population living
in the vicinity of the IP were found statistically increased: I) SER of breath
difficulties in females from the permanent localities and in males from both
types of localities; 2) SHR of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD,
including asthma, and all respiratory tract diseases in females from both
type of localities and in males of tribal amassments; 3) SHR of asthma in
males and females from tribal amassments. The number of hospitalization
events for COPD is correlated with monthly frequency of the wind from the
IP. Conclusion: Residential proximity to the IP is associated with worsening
of respiratory system.
chemical plants and the all-country industrial toxic waste site. The study
objective was to evaluate alleged effects of the IP emissions on health indicators of the Bedouin population exposed to the IP for approximately 25
years. Methods: Ecological study for the period over 1995-2000 years
included the entire regional Bedouin population stratified by sex, age and
type of locality (permanent localities and tribal amassments ). As a surrogate
measurement of exposure we used the distance ( <1 0 km, between I 0 and 15
km and> 20 km), and the wind direction from the IP. Data on health indicators were collected from: emergency room and hospitalization files of the
regional medical center. Indirect age adjustment for emergency room visits
(SER) and hospitalizations (SHR), Pearson correlation, multivariate linear
and logistic regressions were employed. Results: For the population living
in the vicinity of the IP were found statistically increased: I) SER of breath
difficulties in females from the permanent localities and in males from both
types of localities; 2) SHR of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD,
including asthma, and all respiratory tract diseases in females from both
type of localities and in males of tribal amassments; 3) SHR of asthma in
males and females from tribal amassments. The number of hospitalization
events for COPD is correlated with monthly frequency of the wind from the
IP. Conclusion: Residential proximity to the IP is associated with worsening
of respiratory system.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S28-S28 |
| Journal | American Journal of Epidemiology |
| Volume | 161 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 27 Jun 2005 |