The health effects of living near cement kilns; a symptom survey in Midlothian, Texas.
Cement kilns are major sources of toxic air emissions. Regulations based on demonstrated concentrations of specific chemicals, and risk assessments with inherent limitations and uncertainties, are the current methods of preventing exposure to 'unsafe' emission levels. Monitoring data are frequently incomplete. These limitations mandate that residents residing near cement kilns be evaluated for adverse health effects. This study reports findings from a symptom survey conducted in Midlothian, Texas, which adds to the limited but growing body of knowledge showing that persons living near cement kilns are experiencing increased respiratory effects. This cross-sectional study uses randomized sampling and an extensive health questionnaire, covering 12 physiological systems, to determine differences in reported health symptoms between the study community (Midlothian, Texas, n = 58) and the reference community (Waxahachie, Texas, n = 54). Findings indicate significant elevations in reported respiratory symptoms in the study community (p-value 0.002). Although the comparatively small sample size is a limitation, the fact that only 'respiratory effects' were highly significant supports the efficacy of this investigation. Respiratory effects would be the major anticipated outcome from the known exposures under investigation. This specificity of response (i.e., elevation in respiratory symptoms only), indicates that 'response bias' was not a significant factor in this study.
Legator
M S
MS
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Department of Preventive, Medicine and Community Health, Galveston 77555-1110, USA. mlegator@utmb.edu
Singleton
C R
CR
Morris
D L
DL
Philips
D L
DL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000009:adverse effects; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013781:Texas
D006256:Hazardous Waste