Respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow in survivors of the Nyos disaster.
Chest
; 110(5): 1278-81, 1996 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-8915234
ABSTRACT
In August 1986, gases from the Nyos volcanic lake killed 1,746 persons in northwestern Cameroun, but 1,500 others living in the affected area survived. Gas emanations contained carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the delayed respiratory consequences of the inhalation of such volcanic gases. Two groups of subjects living in the same area, exposed (Nyos group; n = 381) or not exposed (control group; n = 128) to Nyos gases, were evaluated with a short questionnaire and by measurement of peak expiratory flow (PEF, percent predicted) in March 1991. Eleven percent of the subjects smoked, more often men than women (23% vs 4%; p < 0.001). In the whole population (exposed and unexposed), smoking was associated with a 3.6-fold increase in the frequency of cough (p < 0.001) and with a 6-fold increase in the frequency of sputum production (p < 0.005), but not with a decrease in PEF. There was no difference in the frequency of dyspnea, cough, sputum production, and PEF between Nyos and control groups. We conclude that 55 months after the emanation of gases from Nyos volcanic lake, there was no difference in respiratory symptoms, and PEF between survivors who inhaled volcanic gases and control subjects, whereas smoking was associated with cough and sputum production.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Trastornos Respiratorios
/
Ápice del Flujo Espiratorio
/
Erupciones Volcánicas
/
Desastres
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Chest
Año:
1996
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Camerún