Residents’ Self-Reported Health Effects and Annoyance in Relation to Air Pollution Exposure in an Industrial Area in Eastern-Estonia

Bibliographic Data

ID15513765
AuthorsHans Orru (0000-0002-7965-9451, University of Tartu, corresponding author), Jane Idavain (0000-0003-1240-3344, National Institute for Health Development), Mihkel Pindus (0000-0003-3684-0813, University of Tartu), Kati Orru (0000-0003-0616-9870, University of Tartu), Kaisa Kesanurm (Estonian Environmental Research Center (Estonia)), A Lang (0009-0006-6741-666X, University of Tartu), Jelena Tomasova (Estonian E Health Foundation)
Year2018
Volume15
Issue2
Pages252-252
Publication date2018-02-02
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph15020252
PMID29393920
OpenAlexW2791622128
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited59

Eastern Estonia has large oil shale mines and industrial facilities mainly focused on electricity generation from oil shale and shale oil extraction, which produce high air pollution emissions. The "Study of the health impact of the oil shale sector-SOHOS" was aimed at identifying the impacts on residents' health and annoyance due to the industrial processing. First, a population-wide survey about health effects and annoyance was carried out. Second, the total and oil shale sectors' emitted concentrations of benzene, phenol, and PM 2.5 were modelled. Third, the differences between groups were tested and relationships between health effects and environmental pollution studied using multiple regression analysis. Compared to the control groups from non-industrial areas in Tartu or Lääne-Viru, residents of Ida-Viru more frequently ( p 2.5 , had significantly higher odds ( p < 0.05) of experiencing chest tightness (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.26), shortness of breath (1.16, 1.03-1.31) or an asthma attack (1.22, 1.04-1.42) during the previous year. People living in regions with higher levels of benzene had higher odds of experiencing myocardial infarction (1.98, 1.11-3.53) and with higher levels of phenol chest tightness (1.44, 1.03-2.00), long-term cough (1.48, 1.06-2.07) and myocardial infarction (2.17, 1.23-3.83). The prevalence of adverse health effects was also higher among those who had been working in the oil shale sector. Next to direct health effects, up to a quarter of the residents of Ida-Viru County were highly annoyed about air pollution. Perceived health risk from air pollution increased the odds of being annoyed. Annoyed people in Ida-Viru had significantly higher odds of experiencing respiratory symptoms during the last 12 months, e.g., wheezing (2.30, 1.31-4.04), chest tightness (2.88, 1.91-4.33 or attack of coughing (1.99, 1.34-2.95)

Air pollution · Asthma · Chest pain · Environmental health · Myocardial infarction · Odds ratio · Population · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Air Quality Monitoring and Forecasting · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Medicine · Internal Medicine · Surgery

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