Effect of outdoor air pollution caused by the fertilizer Factory in Assiut on prevalence of COPD

ABSTRACT

The research was conducted to study the effect of outdoor air pollution caused by the Superphosphate Fertilizer Factory in Manqabad. Assiut on the prevalence of COPD. It is a cross-sectional community-based study conducted from March through July, 1993 on 492 subjects in the area exposed to air pollution, and on 291 control subjects in a non-exposed area Data were collected during personal interview at home visits including history taking and clinical examination. Spirometric pulmonary function studies were performed and reversibility of airway obstruction of all subjects was tested. Air samples covering the 24 hours were collected to measure SO[2] concentration in different regions. Mean SO[2] concentration was higher in exposed [2.97 ppm] than non-exposed [0.48 ppm] areas. The two populations were matched age structure. Sex and smoking habits. The prevalence of COPD was 17.5 percent in exposed compared to 6.2 percentin non-exposed areas [p<0.001]. The prevalence of COPD consistently paralleled to SO[2] concentration in different regions in exposed area. The prevalence of COPD was higher in exposed than non-exposed areas for the factors of age, sex, occupation and smoking. Smoking and occupational exposure are preventable modifying risk factors We concluded that the Fertilizer Factory in Assiut causes sulphur air pollution which is an important factor contribution to the development and/or aggravation of COPD