[Impact of a waste disposal site on adult respiratory health].
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated the impact of the presence of a dump on respiratory health in adults older than 50 years of age, living in its area of influence.


METHODS
A cohort study was conducted with 313 adults older than 50 years of age living near the Navarro Dump (Cali, Colombia) and compared with 359 adults in an unexposed area. Each was examined monthly during a 6 month period to compare the incidence of respiratory symptoms and alterations in peak expiratory flow.


RESULTS
Exposure to the Navarro Dump was associated with occurrence of respiratory symptoms (odds ratio=1.25, 95% C.I. 1.01-1.56), in particular with mild respiratory symptoms (odds ratio=1.28, 95% C.I. 0.98-1.66). This result was obtained after adjusting for age, sex, education level, humidity, health insurance, comorbidity, smoking and previous occupational exposure. A higher recurrence of symptoms was found in adults in the area of exposure (correlation coefficient=0.29, 95% C.I. 0.23-0.33, p<0.001) and a significant reduction in the lung function defined by peak expiratory flow; the average decrease was 15.2 L/min (95% C.I. -30.2 to +0.22).


CONCLUSIONS
Independent of potential confounding factors, the respiratory health of adults exposed to the Navarro Dump was affected and exhibited an increased occurrence and recurrence of mild respiratory symptoms as well as decreased lung function.
Grupo de Epidemiología y Salud Poblacional, Escuela de Salud Pública, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. pafiligrana@grupogesp.org
Paola Andrea
PA
Filigrana
Olga Lucía
OL
Gómez
Fabián
F
Méndez
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D003105:Colombia; D015897:Comorbidity; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D057805:Pets; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D031786:Saccharum; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014919:Wind
D000393:Air Pollutants; D062611:Solid Waste