THE EFFECT OF A LINDANE AND MERCURY POLLUTING INCIDENT ON THE HEALTH OF A COMMUNITY - THE SOMERTON HEALTH SURVEY

Objectives. This study sought to identify possible illnesses of people exposed to lindane and methyl mercury following a pollution incidence in Somerton, Somerset, UK. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was posted to 1500 residents in three selected areas of Somert on to identify symptoms of possible illnesses over a 3 month period. R esults: There was a 74% response rate. People living near the stream h ad higher levels of reported mental symptoms and itching skin than in controls. Poisoning as the cause of the mental symptoms was excluded a s the individuals had normal blood levels of lindane or mercury. Other symptoms were no higher in one area than another or from one rime per iod to another. Conclusions: The survey, using controls in time and sp ace, was able to explore, the pollution incident's contribution to the toxicity of residents and how this related to mental symptoms experie nced by the residents.