The association of specific industry-related air pollution with occurrence of chronic diseases: A register-based study.

Air pollution may contribute to onset and progression of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Most studies have focused on the contribution of traffic-related exposure to PM10 or PM2.5. Our aim was to investigate the association of different components of industry-related air pollution on the occurrence of chronic diseases. A register-based repeated cross-sectional study was conducted among 89,714 subjects (2012) with 536,599 annual observations (2012-2017) living in the vicinity of a large industrial area in the Netherlands. Information from the dispensed medication registration was linked with a dispersion model to characterize annual individual-level exposure of all subjects at place of residence. Associations between annual exposure (concentration and duration) to particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) with annual dispensed medication for cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, and inflammatory conditions were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis with generalized estimating equations (GEE) while controlling for confounders. Exposure to PM10 and to NOX (per µg/m3) were significantly associated with medication for cardiovascular diseases (OR 1.06, 95CI% 1.06-1.06 and OR 1.01, 95%CI 1.01-1.01 respectively). Exposures to PM10 and SO2 (per µg/m3) were significantly associated with medication for inflammatory conditions (OR 1.05, 95%CI 1.00-1.09 and OR 1.07, 95%CI 1.01-1.14 respectively). Exposure to SO2 was inversely associated with respiratory diseases (OR 0.91, 95%CI 0.86-0.97). Except for inflammatory conditions, exposure duration (years) was significantly associated with the other three chronic diseases (OR varying from 1.01 to 1.03). This study indicates that specific air pollution components caused by industry may contribute to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, and inflammatory conditions.

The influence of industry-related air pollution on birth outcomes in an industrialized area.

Recent studies suggests that air pollution, from among others road traffic, can influence growth and development of the human foetus during pregnancy. The effects of air pollution from heavy industry on birth outcomes have been investigated scarcely. Our aim was to investigate the associations of air pollution from heavy industry on birth outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 4488 singleton live births (2012-2017) in the vicinity of a large industrial area in the Netherlands. Information from the birth registration was linked with a dispersion model to characterize annual individual-level exposure of pregnant mothers to air pollutants from industry in the area. Associations between particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) with low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and small for gestational age (SGA) were investigated by logistic regression analysis and with gestational age, birth weight, birth length, and head circumference by linear regression analysis. Exposures to NOX, SO2, and VOC (per interquartile range of 1.16, 0.42, and 0.97 µg/m3 respectively) during pregnancy were associated with LBW (OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.06-1.35, OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.00-1.43, and OR 1.21, 95%CI 1.08-1.35 respectively). NOX and VOC were also associated with PTB (OR 1.14, 95%CI 1.01-1.29 and OR 1.17, 95%CI 1.04-1.31 respectively). Associations between exposure to air pollution and birth weight, birth length, and head circumference were statistically significant. Higher exposure to PM10, NOX, SO2 and VOC (per interquartile range of 0.41, 1.16, 0.42, and 0.97 µg/m3 respectively) was associated with reduced birth weight of 21 g to 30 g. The 90th percentile industry-related PM10 exposure corresponded with an average birth weight decrease of 74 g.

The mediating role of risk perception in the association between industry-related air pollution and health.

BACKGROUND: Heavy industry emits many potentially hazardous pollutants into the air which can affect health. Awareness about the potential health impacts of air pollution from industry can influence people's risk perception. This in turn can affect (self-reported) symptoms. Our aims were to investigate the associations of air pollution from heavy industry with health symptoms and to evaluate whether these associations are mediated by people's risk perception about local industry. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among children (2-18 years) and adults (19 years and above) living in the direct vicinity of an area with heavy industry. A dispersion model was used to characterize individual-level exposures to air pollution emitted from the industry in the area. Associations between PM2.5 and NOX with presence of chronic diseases (adults) and respiratory symptoms (adults and children) were investigated by logistic regression analysis. Risk perception was indirectly measured by worries about local industry (0-10 scale). Mediation analyses were performed to investigate the role of mediation by these worries. RESULTS: The response was 54% (2,627/4,877). In adults exposure to modelled PM2.5 from industry (per µg/m3) was related with reported high blood pressure (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.13-2.15) and exposure to modelled NOX (per µg/m3) was inversely related with cardiovascular diseases (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.98). In children higher PM2.5 and NOX concentrations (per µg/m3) were related with wheezing (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.24-3.24 and OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.06-1.21 respectively) and dry cough (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.55-3.52 and OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.22 respectively). Parental worry about local industry was an important mediator in exposure-health relations in children (indirect effect between 19-28%). CONCLUSION: Exposure from industry was associated with self-reported reported high blood pressure among adults and respiratory symptoms among their children. Risk perception was found to mediate these associations for children.

The effect of industry-related air pollution on lung function and respiratory symptoms in school children.

BACKGROUND: Heavy industry emits many potentially hazardous pollutants into the air which can affect health. However, the effects of air pollution from heavy industry on lung function and respiratory symptoms have been investigated scarcely. Our aim was to investigate the associations of long-term air pollution from heavy industry with lung function and respiratory symptoms in school children. METHODS: A cross-sectional lung function study was conducted among school children (7-13 years) in the vicinity of an area with heavy industry. Lung function measurements were conducted during school hours. Parents of the children were asked to complete a questionnaire about the health of their children. A dispersion model was used to characterize the additional individual-level exposures to air pollutants from the industry in the area. Associations between PM2.5 and NOX exposure with lung function and presence of respiratory symptoms were investigated by linear and/or logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Participation in the lung function measurements and questionnaires was 84% (665/787) and 77% (603/787), respectively. The range of the elevated PM2.5 and NOX five years average concentrations (2008-2012) due to heavy industry were 0.04-1.59 µg/m3 and 0.74-11.33 µg/m3 respectively. After adjustment for confounders higher exposure to PM2.5 and NOX (per interquartile range of 0.56 and 7.43 µg/m3 respectively) was associated with lower percent predicted peak expiratory flow (PEF) (B -2.80%, 95%CI -5.05% to - 0.55% and B -3.67%, 95%CI -6.93% to - 0.42% respectively). Higher exposure to NOX (per interquartile range of 7.43 µg/m3) was also associated with lower percent forced vital capacity (FVC) and percent predicted forced expiration volume in 1 s (FEV1) (B -2.30, 95% CI -4.55 to - 0.05 and B -2.73, 95%CI -5.21 to - 0.25 respectively). No significant associations were found between the additional exposure to PM2.5 or NOX and respiratory symptoms except for PM2.5 and dry cough (OR 1.40, 95%CI 1.00 to 1.94). CONCLUSION: Exposure to PM2.5 and NOX from industry was associated with decreased lung function. Exposure to PM2.5 was also associated with parents' reports of dry cough among their children.

Protective Behaviour of Citizens to Transport Accidents Involving Hazardous Materials: A Discrete Choice Experiment Applied to Populated Areas nearby Waterways.

BACKGROUND: To improve the information for and preparation of citizens at risk to hazardous material transport accidents, a first important step is to determine how different characteristics of hazardous material transport accidents will influence citizens' protective behaviour. However, quantitative studies investigating citizens' protective behaviour in case of hazardous material transport accidents are scarce. METHODS: A discrete choice experiment was conducted among subjects (19-64 years) living in the direct vicinity of a large waterway. Scenarios were described by three transport accident characteristics: odour perception, smoke/vapour perception, and the proportion of people in the environment that were leaving at their own discretion. Subjects were asked to consider each scenario as realistic and to choose the alternative that was most appealing to them: staying, seeking shelter, or escaping. A panel error component model was used to quantify how different transport accident characteristics influenced subjects' protective behaviour. RESULTS: The response was 44% (881/1,994). The predicted probability that a subject would stay ranged from 1% in case of a severe looking accident till 62% in case of a mild looking accident. All three transport accident characteristics proved to influence protective behaviour. Particularly a perception of strong ammonia or mercaptan odours and visible smoke/vapour close to citizens had the strongest positive influence on escaping. In general, 'escaping' was more preferred than 'seeking shelter', although stated preference heterogeneity among subjects for these protective behaviour options was substantial. Males were less willing to seek shelter than females, whereas elderly people were more willing to escape than younger people. CONCLUSION: Various characteristics of transport accident involving hazardous materials influence subjects' protective behaviour. The preference heterogeneity shows that information needs to be targeted differently depending on gender and age to prepare citizens properly.