Preliminary Note
Prevalence of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases among Children Living in the
Vicinity of a Petrochemical Plant and a Refinery
Karolina D. Lyubomirova, Todor A. Popov, Teodor I. Panev, and Savina N. Dimitrova
National Center of Hygiene, Medical Ecology and Nutrition, Sofia, Bulgaria
Corresponding author: Karolina Lyubomirova, MD
National Center of Hygiene, Medical Ecology and Nutrition
Bld D. Nestorov 15
1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
Telephone/Fax number: (+359) 2 59 70 44
E-mails:
carol_lub@hotmail.com, popov@mgu.bg
CEJOEM 2000, Vol.6. No.1.:61-67
Key words:
Refineries, organic solvents, health impacts on children, sensitization, and
respiratory functions
Abbreviations:
DPT = Dermatophagoides
FEV1 = Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s,
FVC = Forced Vital Capacity,
ISAAC = International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood,
PM2.5 = Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 nm
PM10 = Particulate matter with a diameter of 10 nm
TLV = Threshold Limited Value,
TSP = Total Suspended Particles
Abstract:
Refineries and petrochemical plants pollute the ambient air with a mixture of
chemical substances, mainly organic solvents. They can irritate mucosa and cause
hyperreactivity of the respiratory tract. In order to prove this hypothesis we chose
a group of children as they present the most vulnerable part of the population.
The group consisted of 712 children living in a
downwind village and 291 from a control village demographically similar but without
air pollution. ISAAC questionnaires were filled in for all. The children who answered
positively on the questions further passed spirometric testing and skin prick testing
with common allergens. Chemical analysis of the ambient air consisted of gas chromatography
followed by mass spectrometry. High concentrations exceeding TLV were found for benzene,
ethylbenzene, heptane, and xylene. Results from the questionnaire showed 5-6 times
higher frequency of respiratory disorders among the exposed children in comparison
with the controls. Reported symptoms of dermatitis were of practically equal prevalence.
Decreased respiratory indices were found in 63.6% of exposed children for FVC and 32.3%
for FEV1, compared to 13.8% for FVC and 6.8% for FEV1 of the controls. Skin testing
had equal positive results in the two groups with the exception of testing with house
dust and feathers. For these allergens positive results of the exposed children were
twice as high as those of the controls.
Received: 20 July 2000
Accepted: 08 September 2000
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