Symptoms of Adverse Health Effects Among Residents from Communities Surrounding Chemical-Industrial Complexes in Southeast Texas

Abstract

Beaumont and Port Arthur are cities in southeast Texas with major chemical-industrial complexes. Using a menu-driven computer program and trained interviewers, the authors compared self-reported symptoms of adverse health effects in individuals from these two communities with the reference community of Galveston, Texas. There were no statistical differences between the Beaumont and Port Arthur communities. However, the authors found all categories of self-reported health effects were elevated, with an odds ratio > 3.0, when they compared the combined responses of these two communities with the reference community. Although a survey of self-reported symptoms has limitations, the results of this study show a marked difference in all evaluated categories between the two communities near major chemical-industrial complexes and the reference community. Further studies are warranted to determine possible genetic effects, including a higher risk of cancer in these communities.