Review Article

A Review of the Epidemiological Methods Used to Investigate the Health Impacts of Air Pollution around Major Industrial Areas

Table 3

Studies investigating morbidity.

ReferenceCountryIndustrial backgroundHealth outcomeEpidemiological designExposure assessment

Fung et al., 2007 [35] CanadaSarnia “Chemical Valley”All hospital admissions, admissions with a primary diagnosis of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseasesStandardized admissions ratioComparison of three cities, annual averages of SO2, NO2, and O3
Pascal et al., 2011 [1]FranceOil refining, oil storage, petrochemical and organic chemical activities, chlorine chemistry, steel and metal working, chemical plants, waste incineration plant, portHospitalisations for cardiovascular and respiratory diseasesPoisson regression modelsCoupling of a dispersion model (ADMS4), a meteorological model and kriging to assess the SO2 levels
Kosatsky et al., 2004 [36]Canadaindustrial area in MontrealHospitalisations for cardiovascular and respiratory diseasesStandardised admissions ratesO3, , SO2, and PM measurements
Bhopal et al., 1994 [12]
Bhopal et al., 1998 [13]
United KingdomCoke ovens (66 from 1980)GPs activity: data on consultations, chronic conditions, hospital admissions, and current drug treatments. Lung function, Self-reported respiratory, and nonrespiratory health including asthma Age and sex standardised rates and ratios, questionnaires (6399 adults, 1888 children) time seriesPerceived exposure areas (criteria not specified), modeled exposure (model not specified) 24-hour mean daily measures of SO2 and smoke over 56 months (1987–91)
Aylin et al., 2001 [37]United KingdomCoke worksHospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseasesStandardised admissions ratesDistance (7.5 km)

Patel et al., 2008 [38]IndiaVapi industrial area, dyes, chemical plantsRespiratory health, lung functionQuestionnaires (2, 573 women)Distance (<2 km, 2-3 km, 3-4 km, and farther)
De Marco et al., 2010 [39]Italy Largest chipboard industrial parkRespiratory and skin diseasesQuestionnaires (ISAAC (1998), ECRHS (2002), SIDRIA, MM040NA and MM080 standardized questionnaires, 3854 children)Distance (no wood factories <2 km from home and school (“unexposed” group) at least 1 low emission factory (but no chipboard industries) <2 km from home or school (group “at low exposure”), at least 1 chipboard industry <2 km from home or school (group “at high exposure”)
Dubnov et al., 2007
[40]
IsraelMajor coal-fired power stationHealth status, pulmonary function tests (PFT), forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume during the first second (FEV1)Questionnaires (ATS and National Heart and Lung Institute) (1492 children)   * SO2 during acute episodes ( and SO2 measurements above 0.125 and 0.070 ppm, respectively, during 30 mn), based on a map interpolated from 12 monitoring stations
Ginns and Gatrell, 1996 [41]United KingdomCement worksRespiratory healthQuestionnaire (362 children)Distance (near the industry versus area 9 to 19 km away)
Halliday et al., 1993
[42]
AustraliaPower stationsAsthma, general symptoms, measurement of lung function, bronchial reactivity, and skin test atopy wasQuestionnaire (851 children)Distance (near the industry versus area 40 km away)
Peled et al., 2005 [43]Israel2 power plantsHealth status, lung function (peak expiratory flow) Nested cohort study (285 children), questionnaire based on the American Thoracic Society’s (ATS) ATS-DLD-78PM10 and PM2.5 daily measurements at 6 stations
Pignato et al., 2004
[44]
Italy Petrochemical industries and oil refineriesSelf-reported asthma, asthma-like symptoms, and allergic rhinitisQuestionnaires (1180 children)Annual mean NO2 measurements
Rusconi et al., 2011 [45]Italy Biggest high complexity refinery in the Mediterranean Sea and largest European liquid fuel gasification plantAsthma, respiratory symptoms in children, FENO, and lung function measurementsQuestionnaires (ISAAC)Measurement of weekly concentrations of SO2, benzene, NO2, O3
Stenlund et al., 2009 [46]SwedenSteel industrySelf-reported health symptoms bronchitis- and asthma-like, and neurasthenicInterventional, population-based questionnaire study (684 adults)distance (two areas relatively close and relatively distant)
De Moraes et al., 2010 [47]BrazilPetrochemical complexWheezingQuestionnaires (ISAAC) (209 children)Cities in a 5-kilometer radius, communities established downwind of the petrochemical complex and thus, under greater influence of its dispersion plume (A, B, C), were classified as “exposed communities” (ECs) Those upwind of the plant and thus less exposed to its dispersion plume (D, E) were used as reference communities (RCs)
Jadsri et al., 2006 [48]Thailand50 chemical industriesRespiratory diseasesSpatial regression analysisDispersion of SO2, , and TSP
Câra et al., 2007 [49]RomaniaIron, steel, and coke factoryWheezingComparison of two periods before and after the closure of the factory (GPs information for 874 children)Distance (near the industry and 10 km away)
Pless-Mulloli et al., 2000 [50]
Pless-Mulloli et al., 2001 [51]
United KingdomOpencast coal mining sitesRespiratory illnessesQuestionnaires (3216 children) and GPs records (2442 records)Distance (5 cities near industries and 5 referent cities further away)
Smargiassi et al., 2009 [52]CanadaRefineryEmergency visits and hospital admissions for asthma in childrentime stratified case-crossoverDistance (0.5–7.5 km) and daily SO2 measurements, at-home estimates of daily exposure based on a dispersion model (AERMOD)
Howel et al., 2001 [53]United KingdomOpencast coal minesRespiratory healthGP data, respiratory events (2442)Distance, PM10 measurements
White et al., 2009 [54]South AfricaPetrochemical refineryRespiratory healthQuestionnaire (ISAAC) (2361 children)Distance, wind direction, and speed
Wichmann et al., 2009 [55]ArgentinaPetrochemical industriesRespiratory health, lung function (standard spirometry)Questionnaires (1191 children)Distance, near petrochemical industries, near heavy roads, and 2 relatively nonpolluted areas, PM and VOCs measurements
Yogev-Baggio et al., 2010[56]IsraelCoal-fired power plantRespiratory health, lung function (forced expiratory volume)Questionnaires (1181 children)   * SO2 during acute episodes ( and SO2 measurements above 0.125 and 0.070 ppm, respectively, during 30 mn), based on a map interpolated from 12 monitoring stations
Aungudornpukdee et al., 2010 [57]Thailand15 chemical industriesshort-term memory dysfunctionWeschsler intelligence scale for children, questionnaires (2955 children)Distance to major air pollution sources (industries, roads, etc.)
Atari et al., 2009 [58]CanadaSarnia “Chemical Valley”General health status, odour annoyanceTelephone interviews (804)Land use regression (LUR) modeling based on SO2 and NO2 measurements