Contribution of the transfer of industrial emissions by predominate winds to changes in laboratory indicators of the state of population health

Abstract

Introduction. Horizontal transport of air pollutants by predominant winds plays an important role in the dispersion of emissions from their primary sources. The purpose of this study is to assess the contribution of prevailing winds to changes of non-invasive markers in preschool children living in a small city at different distances and in different directions from the complex of agricultural processing enterprises. Materials and methods. Next markers were determined in mixed saliva samples of 112 children (aged 5-7 years) attending 6 kindergartens at distances of 1.74-5.74 km from the source of emissions toward the SSW, SSE and SE: the intensity of luminol-enchanced chemiluminescence (LC), secretory IgA, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 levels, and uric acid, α-amylase and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activities. Based on the Meteoblue database, integral indicators of wind repeatebility (W, km/year) for winds, blowing towards the town from NNE, NNW and NW correspondingly, were calculated. Results. As a marker of the effect for multiple regression analysis, the intensity of LC in children’s saliva samples was chosen as having the most pronounced relationship with the distances between kindergartens and the source of emissions (R = -0.524; p = 7•10-9). The distances were shown to explain 49% of the total variance of LC intensity (p = 3•10-8), whereas the transfer of emissions with prevailing winds explains 16% of the total variance (p = 0.058). The resulting 3D model is in good agreement with previously conflicting data for two equidistant kindergartens having significant differences in children LC intensity, since corresponding wind repeatebilities differ twofold. Limitations. To develop the 3D model, archival data were used, with the theoretical possibility of planning a population survey with a more complete coverage of the wind rose points. Conclusion. The results obtained indicate that it is promising to assess the contribution of prevailing winds when analyzing the data of human health in the industrial areas.