The South Karelia Air Pollution Study: acute health effects of malodorous sulfur air pollutants released by a pulp mill

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · American Journal of Public Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.82.4.603· OSTI ID:5317112

Haahtela, T; Marttila, O; Vilkka, V; Jaeppinen, P J; Jaakkola, J J ^[1]

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1. Department of Allergic Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, (Finland)

We evaluated the acute health effects of a strong emission of malodorous sulfur compounds released from a pulp mill in South Karelia, Finland. The 24-hour ambient air concentrations of hydrogen sulfide for the two emission days were 35 and 43 micrograms/m3 (maximum 4-hour 135 micrograms/m3). A questionnaire was distributed after the high exposure and later after a low exposure period to 29 households with 75 subjects living in the nearby community. During the high exposure, 63% of the respondents reported experience of at least one symptom compared to 26% during the reference period. Every third participant reported difficulties in breathing. In the 45 subjects responding to both questionnaires more eye, respiratory and neuropsychological symptoms occurred during the exposure compared to the reference period. The strong malodorous emission from a pulp mill caused an alarming amount of adverse effects in the exposed population.

• OSTI ID: 5317112
• Journal Information: American Journal of Public Health; (United States), Vol. 82:4; ISSN 0090-0036
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FINLAND
AIR POLLUTION
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
HEALTH HAZARDS
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
INHALATION
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
PAPER INDUSTRY
SYMPTOMS
CHALCOGENIDES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EUROPE
HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
INTAKE
MONITORING
POLLUTION
SAFETY STANDARDS
SCANDINAVIA
STANDARDS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology