title: Community exposure to hazardous site remediation in rural New Zealand: an exposed-referent study of serum dioxins and health effects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The New Zealand Ministry of Health responded to community concern about dioxin exposure during on-site remediation of a pesticide-contaminated rural area by commissioning this exposed-referent study of serum dioxins and health in local residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 200 residents were eligible, with age and sex matching to demographically comparable referents. Face-to-face interviews included questions on health status, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and perceptions about community consultation. Thirty serum samples were obtained, eligibility being based on likelihood of exposure and age. Both HRQOL and serum outcomes were analysed by the appropriate regression methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 200 eligible residents, 139 (69.5%) participated, with 139 matched referents. Mapua residents had lower physical and psychological HRQOL scores, but no difference in health status. 2,3,7,8 TCDD was below the limit of detection in the majority of all serum samples, with some congeners being higher in referents. Perceptions of the communication process were equivocal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both dioxin levels and measures of health did not differ significantly between the exposed community and controls. Implications for public health: The results suggest neither significant dioxin exposure nor community health effects. Oversight by expert panel with health expertise, allied to sound communication, may have helped the community understand the risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand. david.mcbride@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lovelock
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dirks
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004147:Dioxins / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins
keywords: dioxins; environmental exposure; polychlorinated biphenyls