The South Karelia Air Pollution Study: effects of low-level exposure to malodorous sulfur compounds on symptoms

Arch Environ Health. 1996 Jul-Aug;51(4):315-20. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1996.9936031.

Abstract

Exposure to very low levels of ambient-air malodorous sulfur compounds and their effect on eye irritation, respiratory-tract symptoms, and central nervous system symptoms in adults were assessed. A cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire (response rate = 77%) was distributed during March and April 1992 to adults (n = 336) who lived in a neighborhood that contained a pulp mill and in a nonpolluted reference community (n = 380). In the exposed community, the measured annual mean concentrations of total reduced sulfur compounds and sulfur dioxide measured in two stations were 2 to 3 micrograms/m3 and 1 micrograms/m3, respectively. In the reference community, the annual mean concentration of sulfur dioxide was 1 micrograms/m3. The residents of the community near the pulp mill reported an excess of cough, respiratory infections, and headache during the previous 4 wk, as well as during the preceding 12 mo. The relative risk for headache was increased significantly in the exposed community, compared with the reference area: the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was 1.83 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.06-3.15] during the previous 4 wk and 1.70 (95% CI = 1.05-2.73) during the preceding 12 mo. The relative risk for cough was also increased during the preceding 12 mo (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.01-2.64). These results indicated that adverse health effects of malodorous sulfur compounds occur at lower concentrations than reported previously.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Air Pollutants / administration & dosage
  • Air Pollutants / adverse effects*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data
  • Eye Diseases / chemically induced
  • Eye Diseases / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Industrial Waste / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paper
  • Prevalence
  • Random Allocation
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / chemically induced
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / epidemiology
  • Sulfur / administration & dosage
  • Sulfur / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Industrial Waste
  • Sulfur