Respiratory Health Effects Associated with Restoration Work in Post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans
Table 1
Demographics, symptoms, and respiratory conditions of the study cohort by smoking status.
Smoking status
Current
Ex
Never
Overall
(n = 218)
(n = 142)
(n = 431)
(n = 791)
Age: mean (S.E.)
43.2 (0.9)
51.8 (0.9)
43.5 (0.7)
44.9 (0.5)
% male
72.0
79.6
65.0
69.6
% non-white
73.8
64.8
77.1
75.0
% with any restoration worka
76.8
81.7
70.4
74.2
% cough
49.1
31.7
29.1
35.1
% phlegm
46.8
30.3
28.8
34.1
% dyspnea
35.8
41.6
31.6
34.6
% hayfever
21.6
25.0
22.0
22.4
% new onset sinus symptoms
51.7
51.1
45.7
48.4
()b
(147)
(90)
(267)
(504)
% fever and cough
32.4
29.0
27.8
29.3
% ever asthma
19.7
20.4
21.6
20.9
% new onset asthma
2.8
4.0
5.4
4.5
()b
(144)
(99)
(296)
(539)
% ever pneumonia
17.1
18.3
11.0
14.0
% new onset pneumonia
5.5
4.2
2.6
3.7
% COPD
9.7
6.5
3.6
5.7
% < LLN, FEV1
14.6
16.7
5.7
10.1
% < LLN, FVC
11.7
18.1
8.3
11.0
% < LLN, FEV1/FVC
8.7
6.5
3.6
5.5
LLN: lower limit of normal; FEV1: forced expiratory volume-1 second; FVC: forced vital capacity.
aRestoration work includes the following activities: demolition or ripout, trash or debris removal, landscape restoration, sewer line repair, and mold remediation.
bExcludes those reporting the symptom prior to Hurricane Katrina.
