Health Effects of Air Particle Produced in a Waste Treatment Plant on Residents Living in an Official Residence of Air Base

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to reveal the health effects of air pollution on the residents living near waste treatment plant. METHODS: We sampled 190 residents as the hogh exposed group, 192 residents as the moderate group, and 139 residents as the low exposed group according to the geographical distances from the waste treatment plant. Self-administered questionnaires for prevalence of respiratory disease, irritation symptoms of mucous membrane (eye, nose, thoat, skin, and respiratory tract), gastrointestinal symptoms, other nonspecific symptoms were conducted. We measured the concentrations of total suspened partcles, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd and As in 3 exposed area. RESULT: Airborne concentrations of total suspended particles measured in exposed area were 485, 365, and 332 micro gram/m(3) which excees the limit value. Airborne concentrations of Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd and As were not excees the limit value. The prevalence of respiratory disease of high exposed group (16.8%) was significantly higher than that of moderate group (3.6%) and low exposed group (5.0%). The sysptom score of irrtation sysptoms of mucous membrane, gastrointestinal sysptoms, and other nonspecific sysptoms were increased with exposed level. In multiple linear regression, exposure level was related to all sysptom scores significantly. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the air pollution of waste treatment plant would influence prevalence of respiratory disease, induce irritation of mucous membrane, gastrointestinal symptoms, and other nonspecific sysptoms.