Health effects of high level exposure to traditional pollutants in East Germany--review and ongoing research
- Institute of Epidemiology, Muenchen (Germany)
In East Germany ambient air pollution is characterized by high concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}) and suspended particulates (SP). Since acidity and sulfate are surprisingly low, oxidation of SO{sub 2} seems to be incomplete and neutralization seems to play an important role. Few studies on health effects of air pollution in the former German Democratic Republic have been performed. They showed an increased prevalence in polluted areas of respiratory symptoms, lung function decrement, mild anemia, nonspecific stimulation of the immune system and, retardation of skeletal maturation of children. Since the German unification in 1990, several large-scale studies have been started. Short-term effects of air pollution on daily mortality have been investigated in Erfurt retrospectively for 1980 to 1989. Logarithmic exposure-effect curves have been found for both SO{sub 2} and SP. The number of deaths increased by about 10% with SO{sub 2} and by more than 20% with SP if the 95th percentile of the pollutant is compared to the 5th percentile. The logarithmic shape shows that the increase of ambient concentrations at the beginning of the heating season in fall is more important than further increases in concentrations later in winter. A second study on short-term effects was conducted using daily peak flow measurements and respiratory symptoms in 270 patients with asthma and other obstructive airway diseases in East Germany and the Czech Republic between 1990 and 1992. From regression analysis it follows that an increase by 500 {mu}g/m{sup 3} of SO{sub 2} leads to a mean decrease of the average patient`s peak flow below 2%. Three cross-sectional studies are in progress to compare the existing respiratory health status in East and West Germany. They consider about 9000 adults (20-44 years of age), 9000 school children (9-11 years of age) and 10,000 preschool children (age 6). Analysis is ongoing. 40 refs., 4 figs., 6 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 482231
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9308287-; ISSN 0091-6765; TRN: 97:002104-0004
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 103, Issue Suppl.2; Conference: 5. international conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, Stockholm (Sweden), 15-18 Aug 1993; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
02 PETROLEUM
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
SULFUR DIOXIDE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
NITROGEN OXIDES
AIR POLLUTION
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
AIR QUALITY
PUBLIC HEALTH
EXHAUST GASES
INHALATION
ASTHMA
BRONCHITIS
CZECH REPUBLIC
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
PARTICULATES
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY