RESPIRATORY AND IRRITANT HEALTH-EFFECTS OF AMBIENT VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS - THE KANAWHA COUNTY HEALTH STUDY

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.