Impact of a major thermoelectric plant on self-perceived health status.
BACKGROUND
Measuring self-perceived health status and risk perception according to environmental factors remains a major open issue with important health policy implications.


METHODS
To measure self-perceived health status in an area where a major thermoelectric plant has been active since 1994, in October 2001, we conducted a two sample survey using the SF-12 Health Survey. The study sample (2001 individuals) representative of the population living in the plant area (Montalto di Castro, Central Italy) was compared with a random sample of the general Italian population (1928 individuals). Mean values were adjusted for age, sex and education.


RESULTS
SF-12 summary scales means are comparable in both samples: 50.2 (SE: 0.3) versus 49.9 (SE: 0.3) for the physical score, and 47.7 (SE: 0.4) versus 48.7 (SE: 0.4) for the mental score for Montalto di Castro area and Italian sample respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
People living near a major thermoelectric plant have a subjective health status comparable to that reported by the general Italian population.
Chatenoud
Liliane
L
Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via Eritrea, 62-20157 Milano, Italy. liliana@marionegri.it
Mosconi
Paola
P
Malvezzi
Matteo
M
Colombo
Paolo
P
La Vecchia
Carlo
C
Apolone
Giovanni
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011210:Power Plants; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires