Environmental health surveillance in the areas near large electoronic industrial complex in Korea

Abstract

(Introduction)There have been constant civil complaints about the health influences caused by air pollution from Industrial Complexes in Korea. The environmental health surveillance system was implemented to identify pollution and consequent health damage in these areas and conduct risk communication with local communities. (Method)Regional air pollution was evaluated through data assessment of pollutant release/transfer register and air pollution monitoring, 130 hazardous air pollutants were also measured in the residential areas. The study areas (exposed(E)/non-exposed(NE)) were selected by the CALPUFF modeling with stack emmission(PM10, NO2) data. The questionnaires on health situation and characteristics of exposure were done from 2,500 subjects(purposive and propotionate quota sampling). The concentration of 18 pollutants were analyzed in blood and urine of 850 people. Regional health issues were examined with the standardized ratio of morbidity and hospital visit by disease from the 10-year data of National Health Insurance Service. (Results)Methylethylketon and lead were released 380, 2.4 tons per year respectively. The atmospheric concs of methylethylketon and lead were 6.71-2.6ppb, 62-53 ng/m3 in E area, which were relatively higher than those in NE areas and other complexes. The urinary lead and ethylbenzene metabolites were 1.96ug/dl, 232ug/g-creatinine. The residents had relatively more experiences of sinusitis(3%), allergic rhinitis(7%). Their standardized morbidity ratio of cardiovascular disease and cancer in E areas were 1.19, 3.19 compared to NE area. The ratio of hospital visits due to conjunctivitis and respiratory diseases were 1.02, 1.05. The lead in blood were attributed to age, residence regions and smoking habits and had significant relations with blood pressure and cerebrovascular diseases in E areas. (Conclusion) The people have lived in areas near industrial complex would be influenced from polutants emission in their exposure and health.