title: Environmental exposure as an independent risk factor of chronic bronchitis in northwest Russia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In some parts of the northwest Russia, Murmansk region, high exposures to heavy mining and refining industrial air pollution, especially sulphur dioxide, have been documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate whether living in the mining area would be an independent risk factor of the respiratory symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 200 Murmansk region adult citizens was performed. The main outcome variable was prolonged cough with sputum production that fulfilled the criteria of chronic bronchitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 200 participants, 53 (26.5%) stated that they had experienced chronic cough with phlegm during the last 2 years. The prevalence was higher among those subjects living in the mining area with its high pollution compared to those living outside this region (35% vs. 18%). Multivariable regression model confirmed that the risk for the chronic cough with sputum production was elevated in a statistical significant manner in the mining and refining area (adjusted OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.07-4.35) after adjustment for smoking status, age and sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased level of sulphur dioxide emitted during nickel mining and refining may explain these adverse health effects. This information is important for medical authorities when they make recommendations and issue guidelines regarding the relationship between environmental pollution and health outcomes.
authors: Medical Informatics and Statistics Research Group, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. pentti.nieminen@oulu.fi
authors: Pentti
authors: P
authors: Nieminen
authors: Dmitry
authors: D
authors: Panychev
authors: Sergei
authors: S
authors: Lyalyushkin
authors: German
authors: G
authors: Komarov
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Nikanov
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Borisenko
authors: Vuokko L
authors: VL
authors: Kinnula
authors: Tuula
authors: T
authors: Toljamo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide
keywords: Murmansk; mining; pollution; respiratory symptoms; sulphur dioxide