title: Health risks of residential exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
abstract: A disease prevalence study and follow-up health surveillance were conducted among residents of an African-American community situated at the site of a former creosote wood-treatment facility contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Household interviews were conducted among 214 residents living around the hazardous waste site (target population) and 212 comparison residents in a neighborhood 2.4 km away from the site. Target area residents reported a higher prevalence of skin rashes than comparison residents (relative risk [RR] = 5.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.0, 10.9). The prevalence of reported rashes increased with increasing levels of anthracene detected in yards (test for linear trend, p = 0.02). With adjustment for environmental worry, reports of chronic bronchitis and difficulties becoming pregnant did not differ significantly between target and comparison residents (p > 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas, USA. jb52@swt.edu
authors.forename: Jean D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brender
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pichette
authors.forename: Lucina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hendricks
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000009:adverse effects; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003407:Creosote / Q000009:adverse effects; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D003407:Creosote; C034020:anthracene