EPIDEMIOLOGIC HEALTH STUDY OF A TOWN EXPOSED TO CHEMICALS

The purpose of this survey was to assess the health status of communit y residents exposed to a 16-day release of Catacarb from a nearby refi nery and to document the prevalence rates of symptoms and illnesses of this town, The health status of the exposed residents was compared to that of unexposed residents of a demographically similar control town , An epidemiologic study design was used and questionnaires were maile d to all households in both towns. Response rate was 43%. Household cl uster effects, gender, education, and race were controlled in the anal ysis, Questionnaire health data reveal increased reporting of symptoms in the exposed, specifically headaches, respiratory, visual, gastroin testinal, and dermatologic with odds ratios ranging between 1.3 and 3. Exposure relationships with increased symptoms and worsening of illne sses was found. (C) 1997 Academic Press.