title: Evaluation of respiratory functions of residents around the Orhaneli thermal power plant in Turkey.
abstract: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the health and respiratory function of residents around the Orhaneli thermal power plant in Turkey. The study was conducted using face-to-face interviews, and respiratory functions were measured with a spirometer. The respiratory functions of 2350 residents, 15 years and older, living in communities near the coal-fired Orhaneli thermal power plant in Turkey were measured. The control group consisted of 469 persons from similar communities without a nearby power plant. The FEV1 (forced expiratory volume after 1 s) and FVC (forced vital capacity) values of the study participants were significantly lower than those of the control group, and residents directly downwind of the plant's smokestack showed greater impairment of respiratory functions compared with residents upwind.
authors.affiliation: 1Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kayihan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: Alpaslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Türkkan
authors.forename: Harika
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerçek
authors.forename: Erdinc
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Hamdi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aytekin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003031:Coal; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011210:Power Plants; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D014421:Turkey; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D003031:Coal