ABSTRACT
La forma de generación de la energía en el mundo cambia a gran velocidad, con todas las implicaciones que ello tiene para la salud y el ambiente, así como para la economía y la seguridad de los países. En el lado negativo, continúa el uso masivo de los combustibles fósiles y vuelven a construirse centrales nucleares. En el lado positivo, hay una rápida expansión de las energías limpias y seguras y particularmente de la eólica, tanto en el mundo como, hasta cierto punto, en Chile. También hay un aumento de la conciencia del peligro que representa el cambio climático, además de la contaminación ambiental. En Chile y en otros países, los médicos, junto a otros sectores sociales, tratan de cumplir con su responsabilidad moral y científica en este frente de defensa de la salud. Este artículo pone al día la situación, continuando una serie de publicaciones en que se ha estado ofreciendo un diagnóstico y un tratamiento del tema.
A rapid change in the production of energy is taking place in the world, with substantial implications for health and the environment, as well as for the economy and the security of countries. On the negative side, the massive utilization of fossil fuels goes on and there is a return to the growth of nuclear power. On the positive side, the use of clean and safe sources, particularly eolic energy, is expanding, in the world and, to some extent, also in Chile. We see a growing awareness of the danger of climate change and of environmental pollution. In Chile and in other countries, physicians are trying to fulfill their moral and scientific responsibility in this front of the struggle for health. In this paper we update the facts for the most recent months, in continuation of a series of publications dealing with the diagnosis and management of these issues.
Subject(s)
Humans , Energy-Generating Resources , Environmental Health , Health Policy , Chile , Climate Change , Fires/adverse effects , Environmental Pollution/prevention & control , Non Conventional EnergyABSTRACT
This study was undertaken to determine the effects of environmental pollution due to oil well fires in Kuwait on human health. The sample derived from Emergency room visits to Al-Adan Hospital as well as hospital admissions during a three month period in 1989,1991 and 1992 [just before, during and after the oil well fires]. To record the impact of atmospheric pollution on human health, a selection was made of those morbid conditions which are known to be affected or aggravated by the former, viz., allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma and other conditions of the respiratory tract. In addition, measures of the reproductive outcome were also studied during the same time span. The results showed that atmospheric pollution was responsible for producing allergic conditions affecting the eye and nose as evidenced by a significant rise in the number of hospital admissions and outpatient visits to the Emergency Room. No significant rise in the incidence of asthma was detected. There was a marked decline in the number of normal deliveries over the period of atmospheric pollution. There was also an increased incidence of ectopic pregnancies, multiple gestations, antepartum haemorrhage, spontaneous abortion and low birthweight babies. No significant difference was observed in the number of still-births during the years 1988-92. A direct correlation was observed between atmospheric pollution and smoke-related morbidity based on the mean levels of gaseous and particulate matter in the atmosphere of Kuwait during and after the oil well fires
Subject(s)
Oils/adverse effects , Fires/adverse effects , Morbidity , HealthABSTRACT
In August, 1991, at the time of the oil-smoke crisis, primary care physicians were asked to fill out questionnaires on their experience with patients exposed to smoke pollutants. A total of 232 physicians from 42 clinics responded, from whom 221 questionnaires were processed. These represented 80% of the primary care physicians available at these five Health Regions at that time. The results showed that the commonest presenting symptoms in patients suffering from the ill effects of oil-smoke pollutants were: allergic conditions of the eyes [79.19%]; asthma [76.92%]; cough [70.59%]; skin allergy with pruritus and itching [68.33%]. There were no marked differences in these estimates among the five Health Regions. As cited by 89.40%, patients with chronic pulmonary illness suffered the most. Those medications most frequently prescribed were: antihistamines [72.85%]; drugs used to treat asthma [71.49%]; cough mixtures [48.87%]; antipruritic preparations [49.77%]; eye drops [44.80%]. The treatment was described as effective in 89.57%. Referrals to hospitals were kept to a minimum
Subject(s)
Oils/adverse effects , Fires/adverse effects , Acute Disease , Physicians, FamilyABSTRACT
The integrity of the pulmonary epithelial membrane can be altered by certain acute or chronic pulmonary conditions, such as cigarette smoking, inhalation of toxicants, alveolitis, adult respiratory distress syndrome and hyaline membrane diseases. Most of these conditions can cause an increase in the clearance rate of Tc-99m DTPA aerosols. The aim of this study was to evaluate the integrity of the pulmonary epithelial membrane by using Tc-99m DTPA aerosol clearance rates in persons who inhaled the smoke from the burning oil wells in Kuwait. Four groups of 60 smokers [S] and non-smokers [NS], viz, oil field workers, residents fully or partially exposed to the oil smoke and new arrivals in Kuwait who were not exposed to the oil smoke were studied. Placed in a sitting position, the subjects inhaled Tc-99m DTPA aerosol for two minutes. Using a [G. E.] gamma camera interfaced with a star computer, and with the subject in a posterior supine position for both lungs, dynamic images [30 sec/frame] were acquired over a thirty minute period. Activity time curves were then generated by fitting a monoexponential equation using the G. E. Starcam computer. The t[1/2] values were calculated from the fitted curve and these are given below in minutes: Oil Field workers [S] [NS] Continuous exposure [S] [NS] Partial exposure [S] [NS] Recent arrivals [S] [NS] 28.6+7-5.3 77.0+7-8.8 26.2+7-5.1 68.3 +/- 8.1 31.1 +/- 5.6 76.6+7-8.8 28.0+7-5.3 72.5+7-8.5 The clearance rate of Tc-99m DTPA aerosols in these subjects would seem to indicate that the inhalation of smoke produced by the burning oil wells in Kuwait did not alter the integrity of the pulmonary epithelial membrane