Abstract
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 PM2.5 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 < 0.05) reported wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, a long-term cough, hypertension, heart diseases, myocardial infarction, stroke, and diabetes. All health effects except asthma were reported more frequently among non-Estonians. People living in regions with higher levels of PM2.5, 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).
Highlights
Eastern Estonia or Ida-Viru is a north-eastern county in Estonia bordered by the Finnish Gulf to the north, the Narva River and Russia to the east, and Peipsi Lake to the south
Questionnaires were sent to a reference group of 403 individuals aged 18–70 years living in neighbouring Lääne-Viru County and to 2750 individuals aged 18–40 years old living in Tartu (Southern Estonia, with no industrial air pollution)
2127 people responded to the SOHOS questionnaire
Summary
Eastern Estonia or Ida-Viru is a north-eastern county in Estonia bordered by the Finnish Gulf to the north, the Narva River and Russia to the east, and Peipsi Lake to the south. The county has a long tradition of industries focused on oil shale (mining, energy generation, and chemical production). The extraction of oil shale began in Estonia in 1916. The annual output peaked in 1980 with 29.7 million tons, after which it started to decrease due to the construction of a nuclear power station in Sosnovyj. Bor and decreasing electricity exportation to Russia [1]. By 2003, oil shale extraction had fallen to one-third of the peak level, but from that time onwards the output has been increasing. In 2017, the projected output will be around 20 million tons, the maximum amount allowed to be mined by the Estonian government [2]
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