Respiratory health of a population living downwind from natural gas refineries

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/139.3.595· OSTI ID:6132834

Dales, R E; Spitzer, W O; Suissa, S; Schechter, M T; Tousignant, P; Steinmetz, N

Since 1958 there has been a perception of excess illness in a rural Canadian population living downwind from two natural gas refineries, the emissions of which contain mostly sulfur dioxide but also hydrogen sulfide. To determine if there was an excess of adverse health outcomes in the population exposed (defined by place of residence), a health survey was undertaken in 1985 in this area and in one unexposed to emissions but demographically similar. Participation was 92% from both the exposed population (n = 2,157) and a representative sample (n = 839) of the main reference population. More respiratory symptoms were reported in the exposed group than in the non-exposed group among those 5 to 13 yrs of age (28% versus 18%) and among never-smokers greater than or equal to 14 yrs of age (35% versus 24%). FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC were similar in both areas. Dichotomizing the level of exposure (high, low) within the exposed area revealed a trend in the high exposure area toward increased respiratory symptoms in the younger age group (39% versus 24%), but decreased symptoms in the older age group (33% versus 36% among never-smokers). FEV1 was similar between the two areas. The excess of respiratory symptoms in the exposed area unassociated with impaired spirometric values would be compatible with increased awareness of health or a small biologic environmental effect.

• Research Organization: McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 6132834
• Journal Information: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States) Vol. 139:3; ISSN ARDSB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030500* -- Natural Gas-- Health & Safety
550900 -- Pathology
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CANADA
CHALCOGENIDES
DISEASES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
MATHEMATICS
NATURAL GAS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
REFINERY GASES
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
STATISTICS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SURVEYS