An investigation of the effects of industrial pollution around a combined industrial complex on the Island of Grand Bahama

ABSTRACT

The effects of industrial exposure on the eyes, ears respiratory, blood function, liver function, kidney function, skin function and the reproductive system was assessed by a cross-sectional method for four groups on the Island of Grand Bahamas in the Bahamas. These groups were students, teachers, workers in the industries and a radom selection of residents from the community. In order to evaluate the findings, the exposed cases were those members of the above groups that either went to school, taught, worked in or lived in the exposed area, a 5 mile radius around the industrial site, for a minimum of 5 years. No association was found between expsure to the pollution and disorders of either the respiratory system, blood function based on exams and/or lab results, however, slight associations although none of them significant were indicated from reported past histories in either one or several of the four (4) study groups. These alleged disorders included hypertension, diseases of the genito-urniary tract, gastro-intestinal disorders, and to a lesser extent respiratory disorders and symptoms associated with coughs, colds, and fevers. For disorders of the eye and skin, observed through physical examinations, the results indicated several significant associations. For the eye these included chronic conjunctivitis in the workers and community groups. While eye opacities were initially recorded, the method of these examinations must be questioned and therefore the findings will not be quoted until further study and analysis. The skin exams showed excess cases of acute eczema in the groups of exposed workers, teachers and those from the communities and of ulcerative lesions in the exposed group from the community as well as from the sample of students (AU)