scholarly journals O3A.5 Environmental dust exposure from gold mine waste dumps and respiratory health effects in johannesburg, south africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A22.3-A23
Author(s):  
Samantha Iyaloo ◽  
Tahira Kootbodien ◽  
Nisha Naicker ◽  
Angela Mathee ◽  
Spo Kgalamono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Dust Exposure ◽  
Gold Mine ◽  
X Rays ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Waste Dumps

BackgroundThousands of people living in close proximity to gold mine waste dumps (GMWDs), are exposed to wind-swept, silica-rich dust. The effects on respiratory heath consequent on this exposure are largely unknown.ObjectiveTo examine associations between environmental GMWD dust exposure and respiratory health effects in adults.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 93, 133 and 84 people in high (home <500 m from GMWD), moderate (500 m-1km) and low (>20 km) exposure groups respectively. We calculated a cumulative exposure index (CEI) based on exposure groups and years of residence. Participants were interviewed for respiratory symptoms, had chest X-rays (read by three experienced readers for tuberculosis and silicosis) and spirometry. We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the effect of dust exposure on respiratory health, and multiple linear regression to determine if CEI was associated with% predicted FEV1 and FVC. We adjusted for socioeconomic status, smoking and occupational and biomass fuel exposure.ResultsBeing in the high exposure group versus the low was associated with elevated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for upper respiratory (aOR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.28–5.97) and ocular symptoms (aOR: 4.68; 95% CI: 1.87–11.68), chest wheezing (aOR: 3.78; 95% CI: 1.60–8.96) and spirometry-diagnosed COPD (aOR: 8.17; 95% CI: 1.01–65.85). We found similar associations for the high versus medium exposure groups, but no significant associations in the medium relative to the low group. Exposure had no significant effect on the risks of chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis. We found similar significant results for CEI as for the exposure groups analyses. On linear regression, CEI was not associated with% predicted FEV1, but, surprisingly, FVC was positively associated with CEI. No participant had radiological features of silicosis.ConclusionResidents residing <500 m from GMWDs had elevated aORs for respiratory health effects. Both exposure measures (exposure groups and CEI) yielded similar results.

scholarly journals Respiratory Health in a Community Living in Close Proximity to Gold Mine Waste Dumps, Johannesburg, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2240
Author(s):  
Samantha Iyaloo ◽  
Tahira Kootbodien ◽  
Nisha Naicker ◽  
Spo Kgalamono ◽  
Kerry S. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gold Mine ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Exposure Group ◽  
Mine Dumps ◽  
Low Exposure ◽  
Mine Dump

The effects on respiratory health in populations living close to silica-rich gold mine dumps are unknown. This pilot study related respiratory health and exposure to mine dump dust using two measures of exposure: exposure group, based on distance lived from the mine dump—high (n = 93) (home <500 m from a mine dump), moderate (n = 133) (500–1.5 km), and low (n = 84) (>15 km, control group); and cumulative exposure index (CEI) derived from exposure group and number of years of residence in each exposure group. Participants were interviewed about respiratory symptoms and had chest X-rays and spirometry. We adjusted for key respiratory confounders. No subject had radiological features of silicosis. The high relative to low exposure group had significantly elevated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for upper respiratory symptoms (aOR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.28–5.97), chest wheezing (aOR: 3.78; 95% CI: 1.60–8.96), and spirometry-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (aOR: 8.17; 95%CI: 1.01–65.85). These findings were similar for the high relative to medium exposure group, but no significant associations were found for the medium versus low exposure group. Chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis risks did not differ significantly among groups. CEI and exposure group produced similar results. In conclusion, residents residing <500 m from mine dumps had elevated adverse respiratory health effects.

scholarly journals Lung Function and Respiratory Health of Populations Living Close to Quarry Sites in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6068
Author(s):  
Maysaa Nemer ◽  
Rita Giacaman ◽  
Abdullatif Husseini
Keyword(s):  
Lung Function ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Forced Expiratory Volume ◽  
Exposed Group ◽  
Dust Exposure ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nasal Allergy ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
At Home

Environmental exposure to dust from quarrying activities could pose health dangers to the population living nearby. This study aimed to investigate the health effects of dust exposure on people living close to quarry sites and compared them with those who live far from the quarry sites. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 79 exposed participants, who lived less than 500 m away from the quarry sites, and 79 control participants who lived more than 500 m away. All participants answered a questionnaire on dust exposure at home and health effects, as well as performed a lung function test in which both reported and measured health effects were investigated. People who live in close proximity to the quarry sites reported exposure to dust at home (98%), land destruction (85%), plant leaves covered with dust (97%), and an inability to grow crops (92%). The exposed group reported significantly higher eye and nasal allergy (22% vs. 3%), eye soreness (18% vs. 1%), and dryness (17% vs. 3%), chest tightness (9% vs. 1%), and chronic cough (11% vs. 0%) compared to the control group. Lung function parameters were significantly lower among the exposed group compared to the control group; mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 3.35 L vs. 3.71 L (p = 0.001), mean forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) was 2.78 L vs. 3.17 L (p = 0.001). Higher levels of airway restriction were found among the exposed group. Among the exposed group, lung function parameters worsened with the increasing closeness of home to the quarry site. This study demonstrates the negative health effects of environmental dust exposure among two communities living near quarry sites in Palestine. The results highlight the importance of developing and strictly enforcing rules and regulations in Palestine to protect population health.

scholarly journals Respiratory Health Effects of Exposure to Cleaning Products

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 641-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara De Matteis ◽  
Steven Ronsmans ◽  
Benoit Nemery
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Cleaning Products

scholarly journals A systematic review of the physical and chemical characteristics of pollutants from biomass burning and combustion of fossil fuels and health effects in Brazil

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 1678-1698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Fátima Alves de Oliveira ◽  
Eliane Ignotti ◽  
Sandra S. Hacon
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Chemical Characteristics ◽  
Emission Sources ◽  
Physical And Chemical Characteristics ◽  
Physical And Chemical

The aim of this study was to carry out a review of scientific literature published in Brazil between 2000 and 2009 on the characteristics of air pollutants from different emission sources, especially particulate matter (PM) and its effects on respiratory health. Using electronic databases, a systematic literature review was performed of all research related to air pollutant emissions. Publications were analyzed to identify the physical and chemical characteristics of pollutants from different emission sources and their related effects on the respiratory system. The PM2.5 is composed predominantly of organic compounds with 20% of inorganic elements. Higher concentrations of metals were detected in metropolitan areas than in biomass burning regions. The relative risk of hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases in children was higher than in the elderly population. The results of studies of health effects of air pollution are specific to the region where the emissions occurred and should not be used to depict the situation in other areas with different emission sources.

scholarly journals Radiation dose from common radiological investigations and cumulative exposure in children with cystic fibrosis: an observational study from a single UK centre

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e017548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Ward ◽  
William D Carroll ◽  
Paula Cunningham ◽  
Sheng-Ang Ho ◽  
Mary Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Radiation Dose ◽  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Modern Equipment ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Risk Of Malignancy ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Cumulative Radiation Exposure

ObjectivesCumulative radiation exposure is associated with increased risk of malignancy. This is important in cystic fibrosis (CF) as frequent imaging is required to monitor disease progression and diagnose complications. Previous estimates of cumulative radiation are outdated as the imaging was performed on older equipment likely to deliver higher radiation. Our objectives were to determine the radiation dose delivered to children during common radiological investigations using modern equipment and to identify the number of such investigations performed in a cohort of children with CF to calculate their cumulative radiation exposure.Design, setting and participantsData including age at investigation and radiation exposure measured as estimated effective dose (EED) were collected on 2827 radiological studies performed on children at one UK paediatric centre. These were combined with the details of all radiological investigations performed on 65 children with CF attending the same centre to enable calculation of each child’s cumulative radiation exposure.ResultsThe mean EED for the common radiological investigations varied according to age. The range was 0.01–0.02 mSv for chest X-rays, 0.03–0.11 mSv for abdominal X-rays, 0.57–1.69 mSv for CT chest, 2.9–3.9 mSv for abdominal and pelvic CT, 0.20–0.21 mSv for sinus CT and 0.15–0.52 mSv for fluoroscopy-guided procedures. The mean EED was three to five times higher for helical compared with axial chest CT scans. The mean annual cumulative EED for our cohort of children with CF was 0.15 mSv/year with an estimated cumulative paediatric lifetime EED (0–18 years) of 3.5 mSv.ConclusionsThis study provides up-to-date estimations of the radiation exposure when using common radiological investigations. These doses and the estimates of cumulative radiation exposure in children with CF are lower than previously reported. This reflects the reduced EED associated with modern equipment and the use of age-specific scanning protocols.

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