Jh. Ware et al., RESPIRATORY AND IRRITANT HEALTH-EFFECTS OF AMBIENT VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS - THE KANAWHA COUNTY HEALTH STUDY, American journal of epidemiology, 137(12), 1993, pp. 1287-1301
Kanawha County, West Virginia, is one of the largest chemical manufact
uring centers in the United States. In 1988, a survey of respiratory a
nd irritant symptoms was administered to all third grade to fifth grad
e children attending 74 elementary schools in Kanawha County, and Conc
entrations of 15 volatile organic compounds were measured at each scho
ol. Exposures were characterized by school location, by the sum of the
concentrations of five petroleum-related compounds, and by the sum of
the concentrations of 10 compounds more specific to industrial proces
ses. Children enrolled in schools within the valley had higher rates o
f doctor-diagnosed asthma (odds ratio (OR) = 1.27, 95% confidence inte
rval (CI) 1.09-1.48) and a higher score on a composite indicator of fi
ve chronic lower respiratory symptoms (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.26) th
an children who were enrolled in schools outside of the valley. The in
cidence of chronic respiratory symptoms was also positively associated
with the concentrations of volatile organic compounds. The estimated
change in the odds ratio for chronic lower respiratory symptoms associ
ated with a 2-mug/m3 change in process-related compounds was 1.08 (95%
CI 1.02-1.14). No consistent pattern was found between acute irritant
symptoms in the 2 weeks preceding questionnaire administration and ei
ther proximity to industry or exposure to volatile organic compounds.
The authors conclude that exposure to volatile organic compounds, incl
uding emissions from chemical manufacturing plants, is associated with
increased rates of chronic respiratory symptoms characteristic of rea
ctive airways.