title: Cluster of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with an oil field waste site: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This is a community comparison study that examines persons living in a subdivision exposed to petroleum products and mercury.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared their health status and questionnaire responses to those living in another community with no known exposures of this type.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pristane house dust among the exposed homes was higher than in the comparison communities. The exposed subdivision has higher ambient air mercury levels compared to the control community. The prevalence of rheumatic diseases (OR = 10.78; CI = 4.14, 28.12) and lupus (OR = 19.33; CI = 1.96, 190.72) was greater in the exposed population compared to the unexposed. A higher prevalence of neurological symptoms, respiratory symptoms and several cardiovascular problems including stroke (OR = 15.41; CI = 0.78, 304.68) and angina (OR = 5.72; CI = 1.68, 19.43) was seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were statistically significant differences in B cells, Natural Killer Cells, gamma glutamyl transferase, globulin and serum calcium levels between control and exposed subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. dahlgren@envirotoxicology.com
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dahlgren
authors.forename: Harpreet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takhar
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anderson-Mahoney
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kotlerman
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tarr
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Warshaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D010578:Petroleum; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008670:Metals; D010578:Petroleum; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D013729:Terpenes; C009042:pristane; C002844:pristanic acid; C008906:phytane; D008628:Mercury