THE SOUTH KARELIA AIR-POLLUTION STUDY - THE EFFECTS OF MALODOROUS SULFUR-COMPOUNDS FROM PULP-MILLS ON RESPIRATORY AND OTHER SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

We assessed the role of long-term exposure to ambient air malodorous s ulfur compounds released from pulp mills as a determinant of eye and r espiratory symptoms and headache in children. Adverse health effects o f environmental exposure to these compounds in children have not been reported previously. The parents of 134 children living in a severely polluted (n = 42), moderately polluted (n = 62) and rural nonpolluted (n = 30) community responded to a cross-sectional questionnaire. The r esponse rate was 83%. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for symptoms exper ienced during the previous 4 weeks and 12 months in the severely versu s nonpolluted community were estimated in logistic regression analysis controlling for age and gender. The risk of nasal symptoms (4 weeks O R 1.40, 95% CI 0.59-3.31; 12 months OR 2.47, 95% CI 0.93-6.53), cough (4 weeks OR 1.83, 95% CI 0.75-4.45; 12 months OR 2.28, 95% CI 0.95-5.4 7), eye symptoms (12 months OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.43-3.05), and headache ( 12 months OR 1.77, 95% CI 0.69-4.54) was considerably increased in the severely polluted community, although not quite reaching statistical significance. The results suggest that exposure to malodorous sulfur c ompounds may affect the health of children. (C) 1994 Academic Press, I nc.