Health effects for the population living near a cement plant: an epidemiological assessment

A rapid point of care CC16 kit for screening of occupational silica dust exposed workers for early detection of silicosis/silico-tuberculosis

Silicosis is an irreversible, incurable and progressive occupational disease caused by prolonged exposure to crystalline-silica dust while working in the relevant industries. Conventionally diagnosis is done by chest radiology, often in an advanced stage as early symptoms often go unnoticed. Early detection and necessary intervention (secondary prevention) could be a realistic possible control strategy for controlling silicosis as no effective treatment is available to stop and/or reverse the pathological process. Additionally, these patients are also vulnerable to pulmonary tuberculosis, which often becomes difficult to treat and with uncertain treatment outcome. Considering India has a huge burden of silicosis and silico-tuberculosis, a rapid and inexpensive screening method was realized to be an urgent need for early detection of silicosis among silica dust exposed workers. Serum club cell protein 16 (CC16) is evidenced to be a useful proxy screening marker for early detection of silicosis as evidenced from the recent research work of ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health (ICMR-NIOH), India. In this study a lateral-flow assay for semi-quantitative estimation of serum CC16 level was developed. The detection was performed using gold nanoparticles conjugated anti-CC16 monoclonal antibodies. A sum of 106 serum samples was tested to do the performance evaluation of the assay. A concentration of 6 ng/ml or less produced one band, 6.1–9 ng/ml produced two bands, while more than 9 ng/ml produced all the three bands at the test zone. The sensitivity of the assay was 100% while the specificity was 95%. This assay may be used as a sensitive tool for periodic screening of silica dust exposed vulnerable workers for early detection of silicosis in them.

Characterization and Hazard Identification of Respirable Cement and Concrete Dust from Construction Activities

Construction is an important segment of the economy that employs millions of people. Construction dust is an occupational health hazard to millions of construction workers worldwide. The hazards associated with respirable dust depend upon its particulate size distribution and chemical composition, as these determine the deposition pattern in the respiratory tract and reactivity, respectively. This study presents characterization of the size and composition of the dust from two key construction materials-cast cement and poured concrete. The dust was generated by cutting the cured cement and concrete blocks using an 18" hand-held circular saw as used in highway and building construction. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and laser diffraction were performed for the size analysis of the particles. Energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used for chemical analysis. X-ray diffraction was used for phase identification. Electron diffraction patterns were obtained to assess the crystallinity of individual particles. They confirm the crystallinity of particles of different size and shapes. With a particle size range between 0.5 μm and 10 μm, greater than 90% of particles fell below 2.5 μm, presenting a respirable health concern. Crystalline compounds including the metals Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, and K were detected. The concrete particles were most enriched in crystalline silica with a concentration of more than 30% by weight. The presence of metals and high crystalline silica content pose a serious health concern to construction workers.

Bioaccumulation of Toxic Metals in Children Exposed to Urban Pollution and to Cement Plant Emissions

Cement plants located in urban areas can increase health risk. Although children are particularly vulnerable, biomonitoring studies are lacking. Toenail concentration of 24 metals was measured in 366 children (6-10 years), who live and attend school in a city hosting a cement plant. Living addresses and schools were geocoded and attributed to exposed or control areas, according to modeled ground concentrations of PM10 generated by the cement plant. Air levels of PM10 and NO2 were monitored. PM10 levels were higher in the exposed, than in the control area. The highest mean PM10 concentration was recorded close to the cement plant. Conversely, the highest NO2 concentration was in the control area, where vehicular traffic and home heating were the prevalent sources of pollutants. Exposed children had higher concentrations of Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), and Arsenic (As) than controls. These concentrations correlated each other, indicating a common source. Toenail Barium (Ba) concentration was higher in the control- than in the exposed area. The location of the attended school was a predictor of Cd, Hg, Ni, Ba concentrations, after adjusting for confounders. In conclusion, children living and attending school in an urban area exposed to cement plant emissions show a chronic bioaccumulation of toxic metals, and a significant exposure to PM10 pollution. Cement plants located in populous urban areas seem therefore harmful, and primary prevention policies to protect children health are needed.

Environmental exposures and sleep outcomes: A review of evidence, potential mechanisms, and implications

Environmental exposures and poor sleep outcomes are known to have consequential effects on human health. This integrative review first seeks to present and synthesize existing literature investigating the relationship between exposure to various environmental factors and sleep health. We then present potential mechanisms of action as well as implications for policy and future research for each environmental exposure. Broadly, although studies are still emerging, empirical evidence has begun to show a positive association between adverse effects of heavy metal, noise pollution, light pollution, second-hand smoke, and air pollution exposures and various sleep problems. Specifically, these negative sleep outcomes range from subjective sleep manifestations, such as general sleep quality, sleep duration, daytime dysfunction, and daytime sleepiness, as well as objective sleep measures, including difficulties with sleep onset and maintenance, sleep stage or circadian rhythm interference, sleep arousal, REM activity, and sleep disordered breathing. However, the association between light exposure and sleep is less clear. Potential toxicological mechanisms are thought to include the direct effect of various environmental toxicants on the nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Nevertheless, future research is required to tease out the exact pathways of action to explain the associations between each environmental factor and sleep, to inform possible therapies to negate the detrimental effects, and to increase efforts in decreasing exposure to these harmful environmental factors to improve health.

Club cell protein 16 as a biomarker for early detection of silicosis

Background & objectives

Clinically silicosis is diagnosed by chest X-ray showing specific opacities along with history of silica dust exposure. Diagnosis is invariably made at an advanced or end stage when it is irreversible. Moreover, silicosis patients are susceptible to develop tuberculosis. Therefore, a suitable biomarker for early detection of silicosis is needed. This study evaluated the suitability of club cell protein (CC16) as a biomarker for early detection of silicosis.

Methods

This pilot study included 121 individuals from X-ray-confirmed/advanced silicosis, moderate silica dust-exposed workers and healthy controls from western India. CC16 levels were quantified in serum samples through ELISA. Sensitivity and specificity of CC16 values at different cut-off points were calculated in both non-smokers and smokers.

Results

Serum CC16 level was significantly (P <0.01) decreased in X-ray confirmed advanced silicosis patients (4.7±3.07 ng/ml) followed by moderately exposed workers (10.2±1.77 ng/ml) as compared to healthy non-exposed individuals (16.7±3.81 ng/ml). Tobacco smoking also caused a significant decrease of serum CC16 concentration in both healthy (10.2±1.12 ng/ml) and advanced silicosis workers (2.6±2.28 ng/ml) compared to non-smokers. Sensitivity and specificity of CC16 values were also found to be ≥83 per cent for screening all categories of individuals.

Interpretation & conclusions

Because of high sensitivity and specificity, serum CC16 could be used as predictive biomarker for suspicion and early detection of silicosis, which would help in reducing/delaying premature deaths caused by silicosis. It would also control silicotuberculosis additionally.

Biomass energy, particulate matter (PM2.5), and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among Congolese women living near of a cement plant, in Kongo Central Province

This study investigated whether the individual and combined effects of using biomass energy and living in the neighborhood of a cement plant were associated with the risk of COPD and respiratory symptoms among Congolese women. A total of 235 women from two neighborhood communities of a cement plant participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were classified into the more exposed group (MEG = 137) and a less exposed group (LEG = 98), as well as into biomass users (wood = 85, charcoal = 49) or electricity users (101 participants). Participants completed a questionnaire including respiratory symptoms, sociodemographic factors, medical history, lifestyle, and household characteristics. In addition to spirometry performance, outdoor PM_2.5 (μg/m³) was measured. Afternoon outdoor PM_2.5 concentration was significantly higher in MEG than LEG (48.8 (2.5) μg/m³ vs 42.5 (1.5) μg/m³). Compared to electricity users, wood users (aOR: 2.6, 95%CI 1.7; 5.9) and charcoal users (aOR: 2.9, 95%CI 1.4; 10.7) were at risk of developing airflow obstruction. Combined effects of biomass use and living in the neighborhood of a cement plant increased the risk of COPD in both wood users (aOR: 4, 95%CI 1.3; 12.2) and charcoal users (aOR: 3.1, 95%CI 1.7; 11.4). Exposure to biomass energy is associated with an increased risk of COPD. In addition, combined exposure to biomass and living near a cement plant had additive effects on COPD.

The effects of dimethylformamide exposure on liver and kidney function in the elderly population: A cross-sectional study

Dimethylformamide (DMF) is widely used as a solvent in the production of synthetic leather. Previous studies have focused on workers exposed to DMF in leather factories; however, little attention has been paid to the general population. This study was conducted to examine the effects of DMF exposure on elderly residents living near synthetic leather factories. A total of 962 subjects over 60 years of age in proximity to these factories (monitoring points) were enrolled as the exposure group, and 1924 permanent residents living distant from the factories were enrolled as the control group. The exposure group was divided into 3 groups according to their distance from the monitoring points. Physical examination, routine blood tests, and liver and renal function data were collected, and the DMF concentration in the air was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The prevalence of abnormal heart rhythm, electrocardiogram and B-mode ultrasound results in the exposure group was significantly greater than in the control group. Aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in the exposure group also were higher than those in the control group (P < .01). There was an effect of distance from leather factories on liver and kidney dysfunction in the 3 exposure groups. Compared with the exposure group at >3 km distance from the source, the prevalence of increased AST, ALT, and BUN in the exposure group at <1 km was significantly greater (P < .001). It was concluded that DMF exposure was related to an increased risk of a cardiac injury and liver and kidney dysfunction.

Identification of cement in atmospheric particulate matter using the hybrid method of laser diffraction analysis and Raman spectroscopy

The production of cement is associated with the emissions of dust and particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NO_x), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds into the environment. People living near cement production facilities are potentially exposed to these pollutants, including carcinogens, although at lower doses than the factory workers. In this study we focused on the distribution of fine particulate matter, the composition, size patterns, and spatial distribution of the emissions from Spassk cement plant in Primorsky Krai, Russian Federation. The particulate matter was studied in wash-out from vegetation (conifer needles) using a hybrid method of laser diffraction analysis and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that fine particulate matter (PM₁₀ fraction) extended to the entire town and its neighbourhood. The percentage of PM₁₀ in different areas of the town and over the course of two seasons ranged from 34.8% to 65% relative to other size fractions of particulate matter. It was further shown that up to 80% of the atmospheric PM content at some sampling points was composed of cement-containing particles. This links the cement production in Spassk-Dalny with overall morbidity of the town population and pollution of the environment.

The relationship between cement production, mortality rate, air quality, and economic growth for China, India, Brazil, Turkey, and the USA: MScBVAR and MScBGC analysis

The related literature reveal that the papers on environmental pollution do not sufficiently analyse the cement production which is an important determinant of air pollution and health problems by using econometric methods. To fill this gap, this paper aims to examine the relationship between cement production, air pollution, mortality rate, and economic growth by employing MS Bayesian Vector Autoregressive (MScBVAR) and Markov Switching Bayesian Granger causality (MScBGC) approaches from 1960 to 2017 for China, Brazil, India, Turkey and the USA. MSIA(2)-BVAR(1) model for China, MSIAH(2)-BVAR(3) models for India, MSIAH(3)-BVAR(2) for Brazil, and MSIAH(3)-BVAR(1) for Turkey, and MSIAH(2)-BVAR(2) for the USA were selected. The MScBGC results revealed that the cement production is granger cause of mortality rate, air pollution, and economic growth in all regimes for China, India, Brazil, Turkey, and the USA.

Cement plant emissions and health effects in the general population: a systematic review

Adverse health effects of cement plant exposure have been found in occupational contexts but are less defined for the general population living near plants. We aimed to summarize the evidence on the health effects of people exposed to ambient air pollution by cement plants. A systematic review using Embase, PubMed and Web of Science was performed. We included only non-occupational studies with a comparison group that focused on adverse health outcomes and biomarkers of internal dose or subclinical effect associated with cement plant exposure. Selection of articles was performed by two authors independently. Of 1491 articles identified by the initial search, 24 were included: 17 of them were included in the analysis of adverse health outcomes and 9 in the analysis of biomarkers of internal dose or subclinical effects. The studies were very heterogeneous in study design, measure of cement plant exposure, outcome detection, measure of association and adjustment for confounding. Almost all the studies found positive associations between cement plant exposure and respiratory diseases and symptoms. An excess risk of cancer incidence and mortality in both children and adults mainly concerning respiratory tract cancers was also reported in some studies. Higher values of heavy metals and of a biomarker of renal toxicity were found in the exposed compared to unexposed populations. In conclusion, there is some evidence for a possible role of cement plant exposure on health adverse effects, although many studies had serious or critical risk of bias and overall level of certainty was low.

Environmental exposure and health effects in a highly polluted area of Northern Italy: a narrative review

Human health and well-being are strongly linked to the state of the environment. The high industrial pressure present in the Province of Brescia, located in Northern Italy, produced strong environmental and health concerns. This narrative review of the literature aims at identifying the studies focused on the association between exposure to environmental pollutants and health effects in the population living in this area. Thirteen papers fitted the inclusion criteria: five were focused on the connection among pollutants present in air matrix and health effects, seven on both air and soil, and one on soil. No study investigated the relationship with water pollution. The great variability in the analyzed end-points made it difficult to draw precise conclusions, but the fact that, in almost all the studies, the investigated health effects have a positive association with the exposure to different kinds of pollutants, allows us to hypothesize that the considered population is living in an area where the "environmental pressure" could produce significant health effects in the future.

Exposure assessment of particulate matter and blood chromium levels in people living near a cement plant

This study evaluates the effect of air pollution caused by cement plants on nearby residential areas and performs an exposure assessment of particulate matter (PM) and total Cr, Cr⁶⁺, Pb, and Al. Further, the blood Cr levels of residents exposed to PM released by cement plants are also assessed. Nine buildings (eight residential and one elementary school building) close to cement plants were selected for this study, which were located in Pyeongtaek port, in west of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. A total of 51 suspended particulate samples were collected at a flow rate of 2.0 L/min. Total Cr was more widely detected in residents' houses and elementary schools. PM levels were higher at distances of 4.1 and 4.8 km than those at closer distances of 2.7 km. This was due to the influence of wind direction. The estimated mean blood level of Cr for the study participants was 3.80 μg/L, which is higher than levels estimated by other studies on Cr blood levels. Therefore, cement plants could cause an increase in total Cr and blood Cr levels in residential areas, and more continuous monitoring is necessary to better understand their impacts.

Effects of ambient air pollution from municipal solid waste landfill on children's non-specific immunity and respiratory health

This cross-sectional study investigated the association between air pollutant (AP) and respiratory health of 951 children residing near a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill in Northern China. Results showed that students in non-exposure areas had significantly higher levels of lysozyme, secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), and better lung capacity than students in exposure areas (p < .05). Multiple regression model analysis indicated that lysozyme levels exhibited a consistent negative association with methane (CH₄: β = -76.3, 95% CI -105 to -47.7) and sulfuretted hydrogen (H₂S: β = -11.7, 95% CI -20.2 to -3.19). In addition, SIgA levels were negatively associated with H₂S (β = -68.9, 95% CI -97.9 to -39.9) and ammonia (NH₃: β = -30.3, 95% CI -51.7 to -8.96). Among all AP, H₂S and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) were the most robustly related with reduced lung function. H₂S exposure was negatively associated with six lung function indices, 1-s forced expiratory volume (FEV1%), mean forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% (MMF), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), and forced expiratory flow at 25%, 50%, and 75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF25, FEF50, FEF75); and SO₂ was negatively associated with FEV1%, MVV, FEF25, FEF50 and FEF75. Our results suggested that AP exposure was negatively associated with more lung function parameters in boys than in girls. In conclusion, our findings suggested that children living adjacent to landfill sites were more likely to have deficient non-specific immunity and impaired lung function.

Effects of Airborne Particulate Matter on Respiratory Health in a Community near a Cement Factory in Chilanga, Zambia: Results from a Panel Study

We conducted a panel study to investigate seasonal variations in concentrations of airborne PM2.5 and PM10 and the effects on respiratory health in a community near a cement factory; in Chilanga; Zambia. A panel of 63 and 55 participants aged 21 to 59 years from a community located at the edge of the factory within 1 km and a control community located 18 km from the factory respectively; were followed up for three climatic seasons July 2015 to February 2016. Symptom diary questionnaires were completed and lung function measurements taken daily for 14 days in each of the three climatic seasons. Simultaneously, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in ambient air were monitored at a fixed site for each community. Mean seasonal concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 ranged from 2.39-24.93 μg/m3 and 7.03-68.28 μg/m³ respectively in the exposed compared to the control community 1.69-6.03 μg/m³ and 2.26-8.86 μg/m³. The incident rates of reported respiratory symptoms were higher in the exposed compared to the control community: 46.3 vs. 13.8 for cough; 41.2 vs. 9.6 for phlegm; 49.0 vs.12.5 for nose; and 13.9 vs. 3.9 for wheeze per 100 person-days. There was a lower performance on all lung indices in the exposed community compared to the control; overall the mean FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) and FVC (forced vital capacity) predicted percentage for the exposed was six and four percentage points lower than the control. Restriction of industrial emissions coupled with on-going monitoring and regulatory enforcement are needed to ensure that PM (airborne particulate matter) levels in the ambient air are kept within recommended levels to safeguard the respiratory health of nearby community residents.

Increased incidence of respiratory tract cancers in people living near Portland cement plants in Korea

PURPOSE

Portland cement contains carcinogens such as chromium and free silica, and hence, inhalation of cement dust can cause respiratory tract cancers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether living near a cement plant increases the risk of respiratory tract cancers.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 341,793 people, all of whom lived in administrative districts within 3-km radius of ten cement plants in Korea. The respiratory tract cancer incidence data (International Classification of Diseases, ten revision code C00-C14 and C30-C34) for 2008-2012 were obtained from regional cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for each cancer site in the respiratory tract were calculated using an indirect standardization method.

RESULTS

Compared with the general Korean population, the incidence of lung and bronchus cancer (C33-C34) was significantly higher in all subjects [SIR 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.29] and especially in the men subjects (SIR 1.47, 95% CI 1.29-1.68) in our study population. In addition, the incidence of larynx cancer in men (SIR 1.64, 95% CI 0.97-2.59) and salivary gland cancer in women (SIR 3.03, 95% CI 0.98-7.07) living near cement plants was marginally increased.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that environmental exposure to Portland cement dust is a risk factor for respiratory tract cancers.

Respiratory hospital admissions in young children living near metal smelters, pulp mills and oil refineries in two Canadian provinces

BACKGROUND

Industrial plants emit air pollutants like fine particles (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that may affect the health of individuals living nearby.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of community exposure to air emissions of PM2.5, SO2, and NO2 from pulp mills, oil refineries, metal smelters, on respiratory hospital admissions in young children in Quebec (QC) and British Columbia (BC), Canada.

METHODS

We assessed QC, BC and pooled associations between the following estimates of exposure and hospital admissions for asthma and bronchiolitis in children aged 2-4years for the years 2002-2010: i) Crude emission exposures at the residential postal codes of children, calculated by multiplying estimated daily emissions of PM2.5, SO2, or NO2 from all nearby (<7.5km) pulp mills, oil refineries, metal smelters emitting yearly ≥50t and their total emissions, by the percent of the day each postal code was downwind; ii) Daily levels of these pollutants at central ambient monitoring stations nearby the industries and the children's residences.

RESULTS

Seventy-one major industries were selected between QC and BC, with a total of 2868 cases included in our analyses. More cases were exposed to emissions from major industries in QC than in BC (e.g. 2505 admissions near SO2 industrial emitters in QC vs 334 in BC), although air pollutant levels were similar. Odds ratios (ORs) for crude refinery and smelter emissions were positive in QC but more variable in BC. For example with PM2.5 in QC, ORs were 1.13 per 0.15t/day (95% CI: 1.00-1.27) and 1.03 (95% CI: 0.99-1.07) for refinery and smelter emissions, respectively. Pooled results of QC and BC for crude total SO2 emissions from all sources indicated a 1% increase (0-3%) in odds of hospital admissions per 1.50t/day increase in exposure. Associations with measured pollutant levels were only seen in BC, with SO2 and NO2.

CONCLUSION

Hospital admissions for wheezing diseases in young children were associated with community exposure to industrial air pollutant emissions. Future work is needed to better assess the risk of exposure to complex mixture of air pollutants from multiple industrial sources.

Residential exposure to air toxics is linked to lower grade point averages among school children in El Paso, Texas, USA

Children in low-income neighborhoods tend to be disproportionately exposed to environmental toxicants. This is cause for concern because exposure to environmental toxicants negatively affect health, which can impair academic success. To date, it is unknown if associations between air toxics and academic performance found in previous school-level studies persist when studying individual children. In pairing the National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) risk estimates for respiratory and diesel particulate matter risk disaggregated by source, with individual-level data collected through a mail survey, this paper examines the effects of exposure to residential environmental toxics on academic performance for individual children for the first time and adjusts for school-level effects using generalized estimating equations. We find that higher levels of residential air toxics, especially those from non-road mobile sources, are statistically significantly associated with lower grade point averages among fourth and fifth grade school children in El Paso (Texas, USA).

Cancer mortality in towns in the vicinity of installations for the production of cement, lime, plaster, and magnesium oxide

Our objective was to investigate whether there might be excess cancer mortality in the vicinity of Spanish installations for the production of cement, lime, plaster, and magnesium oxide, according to different categories of industrial activity. An ecologic study was designed to examine municipal mortality due to 33 types of cancer (period 1997-2006) in Spain. Population exposure to pollution was estimated on the basis of distance from town to industrial facility. Using spatial Besag-York-Mollié regression models with integrated nested Laplace approximations for Bayesian inference, we assessed the relative risk of dying from cancer in a 5-km zone around installations, analyzed the effect of category of industrial activity according to the manufactured product, and conducted individual analyses within a 50-km radius of each installation. Excess all cancer mortality (relative risk, 95% credible interval) was detected in the vicinity of these installations as a whole (1.04, 1.01-1.07 in men; 1.03, 1.00-1.06 in women), and, principally, in the vicinity of cement installations (1.05, 1.01-1.09 in men). Special mention should be made of the results for tumors of colon-rectum in both sexes (1.07, 1.01-1.14 in men; 1.10, 1.03-1.16 in women), and pleura (1.71, 1.24-2.28), peritoneum (1.62, 1.15-2.20), gallbladder (1.21, 1.02-1.42), bladder (1.11, 1.03-1.20) and stomach (1.09, 1.00-1.18) in men in the vicinity of all such installations. Our results suggest an excess risk of dying from cancer, especially in colon-rectum, in towns near these industries.

Assessing metal exposures in a community near a cement plant in the Northeast U.S

Cement production is a major source of metals and metalloids in the environment, while exposures to metals and metalloids may impact human health in the surrounding communities. We recruited 185 participants living in the vicinity of a cement plant in the northeast U.S., and measured the levels of aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and selenium (Se) in blood and Hg in hair samples from them. A questionnaire was used to assess potential sources of Hg exposure. Multivariate regressions and spatial analyses were performed to evaluate the relative importance of different routes of exposures. The metal concentrations in blood or hair samples of our study participants were comparable to the U.S. general or regional population. Smoking contributed significantly to Cd and Pb exposures, and seafood consumption contributed significantly to Hg and As exposures, while variables related to the cement plant were not significantly associated with metal concentrations. Our results suggest that our study population was not at elevated health risk due to metal exposures, and that the contribution of the cement plant to metal exposures in the surrounding community was minimal.

Prevalence and determinants of mucous membrane irritations in a community near a cement factory in Zambia: a cross sectional study

Exposure to cement dust has been associated with deleterious health effects in humans. This study investigated whether residing near a cement factory increases the risk of irritations to the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory system. A cross sectional study was conducted in Freedom Compound, a community bordering a cement factory in Chilanga, Zambia and a control community, Bauleni, located 18 km from the cement plant. A modified American Thoracic Society questionnaire was administered to 225 and 198 respondents aged 15-59 years from Freedom and Bauleni, respectively, to capture symptoms of the irritations. Respondents from Freedom Compound, were more likely to experience the irritations; adjusted ORs 2.50 (95% CI: 1.65, 3.79), 4.36 (95% CI (2.96, 6.55)) and 1.94 (95% CI (1.19, 3.18)) for eye, nose and sinus membrane irritations respectively. Cohort panel studies to determine associations of cement emissions to mucous membrane irritations and respiratory symptoms, coupled with field characterization of the exposure are needed to assess whether the excess prevalence of symptoms of mucous membrane irritations observed in Freedom compound are due to emissions from the cement factory.

Short-term exposure to dimethylformamide and the impact on digestive system disease: an outdoor study for volatile organic compound

Occupational and experimental studies have revealed the organs most affected by dimethylformamide (DMF) are liver and gastrointestinal tract. However, few studies have focused on the potential effect of outdoor pollution of DMF. This study examined the health risk of hospitalization due to digestive system disease by time series studies in a case city Longwan, China. The urine metabolite of DMF was correlated well with DMF exposure concentration (EC). A 101.0-μg/m(3) (interquartile range) increase in the two-day moving average of DMF EC was associated with a 1.10 (1.01 ˜ 1.20), 1.22 (1.10 ˜ 1.35), and 1.05 (0.90 ˜ 1.22) increase in hospitalization for total digestive system diseases, liver disease, and gastrointestinal tract disease, respectively. The exposure-dose response between DMF and the relative risk of liver disease was linear only below 350 μg/m(3). These findings highlight a previously unrecognized health problem related to VOCs released into the outdoor environment.