The South Karelia Air Pollution Study: effects of low-level exposure to malodorous sulfur compounds on symptoms.
Exposure to very low levels of ambient-air malodorous sulfur compounds and their effect on eye irritation, respiratory-tract symptoms, and central nervous system symptoms in adults were assessed. A cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire (response rate = 77%) was distributed during March and April 1992 to adults (n = 336) who lived in a neighborhood that contained a pulp mill and in a nonpolluted reference community (n = 380). In the exposed community, the measured annual mean concentrations of total reduced sulfur compounds and sulfur dioxide measured in two stations were 2 to 3 micrograms/m3 and 1 micrograms/m3, respectively. In the reference community, the annual mean concentration of sulfur dioxide was 1 micrograms/m3. The residents of the community near the pulp mill reported an excess of cough, respiratory infections, and headache during the previous 4 wk, as well as during the preceding 12 mo. The relative risk for headache was increased significantly in the exposed community, compared with the reference area: the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was 1.83 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.06-3.15] during the previous 4 wk and 1.70 (95% CI = 1.05-2.73) during the preceding 12 mo. The relative risk for cough was also increased during the preceding 12 mo (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.01-2.64). These results indicated that adverse health effects of malodorous sulfur compounds occur at lower concentrations than reported previously.
Partti-Pellinen
K
K
South Karelia Allergy and Environmental Institute, Tiuruniemi, Finland.
Marttila
O
O
Vilkka
V
V
Jaakkola
J J
JJ
Jäppinen
P
P
Haahtela
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010209:Paper; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D013455:Sulfur / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D007220:Industrial Waste; D013455:Sulfur