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Air pollution and health among residents near a petrochemical complex in Yunlin County：a cohort study

Absrtact	In order to long-term follow-up Yunlin residents’ health, a cohort study is necessary. With community-level support from the local health service and support from National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, we have begun to establish an epidemiological model for an environmental cohort study this year. From November 2009 to July 2011, we have conducted 21 community-based health screenings across 10 towns and villages, including Baojhong, Taisi, Sihhu, Dongshih, Mailiao, Lunbei, Erlun, Citong, Yuanchang and Huwei. In these screenings, a total of 2,613 area residents completed survey questionnaires: 2,587 completed pulmonary function tests, and 2,613 completed physical examinations. We also collected and tested 1,636 residents’ urine sample for 1–OHP and 1,156 resident’s urine samples for heavy metal. We have followed-up 736 cohort residents as well as 103 women who were pregnant and 49 of their babies. Our initial study divided these towns and villages into 3 geographic areas (A, B, and C), according to their distance to the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex, for comparison. Area A includes Mailiao and Taisi which are within 10km of, and nearby, the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex. Area B includes Baojhong, Sihhu, Dongshih and Lunbei, which are also within 10km of, but not nearby, the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex. Area C includes Erlun, Citong, Yuanchang and Huwei, which are located more than 10km from the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex. This study compared variables in these three areas. Our preliminary findings are these (1)The demographic information, health behaviors and living environment of residents in the study sample are not different among the three areas, (2)Five lung function test results (FVC percent predicted, FEV1 percent predicted, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75% predicted and PEF percent predicted) were similar between Area B and C , but the lung function of residents from the two areas was significantly better than of residents from Area A, which is located right next to the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex. (3) The abnormal rate of five biomarkers, including blood pressure, platelet, GOT(AST), GPT(ALT), and cholesterol(CHOL) were the highest in Area A, followed by Area B and then Area C. ( Abnormal rates were compared to the standard normal values provided by National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch. (4)Using HPLC to test urinary metabolites of PAH showed that the 1-hydroxypyren(1-OHP) concentrations were highest in samples from Area A followed by those from Area B and then those from Area C (5) Using ICP-MS to test urinary metabolites of heavy metal showed that the concentrations of metal Vanadium(V) and Manganese(Mn) were higher in samples from Area A than the other areas. In this study, air samples of VOCs were collected using canister, and samples of PM and PAHs were collected using Harvard impactor and Teflon filters (PTFE). The analysis methods employed for VOCs and PAHs and for heavy metals detection were the GC/MS method and the ICP/MS method respectively. This study incorporate data from an environmental monitoring study by Yunlin EPA, and found that：(1) The concentration of VOCs, including Ethylene, Propene, 1,3-Butadiene, Acrylonitrile, Ethene, Ethane, 1,2-dichloro- and Benzene, was higher at schools in Mailiao and Taisi, which are nearest the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex. Long-term exposure to Ethene、Benzene and1,3-butadiene could increase cancer risk. Ethylene released from the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex could also affect local agriculture in Yunlin. (2) The concentrations of PAHs (Benzo(k) fluoranthene, Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, Naphthalene and Phenanthrene) and heavy metal (Magnesium(Mg), Manganese(Mn), Lead(Pb), Barium(Ba), Strontium(Sr), Copper(Cu), Arsenic(As), Chromium(Cr), Rubidium(Rb), Selenium(Se) and Cadmium(Cd)) were higher at sites downwind of the complex. (3) Eight heavy metals, including Selenium(Se), Thallium(Tl), Arsenic(As), Cadmium(Cd), Cesium(Cs), Lead(Pb), Vanadium(V) and Rubidium(Rb) were the major source of PM2.5. Further analysis of data from air quality monitoring stations showed that the average annual hourly SO2 concentration in Taisi from 2006 to 2010 was significantly higher than Lunbei and Touliu. The main source of SO2 is coal-fired power generation, and we intend to use SO2 as an indicator of industrial pollution in an upcoming study. In conclusion, our data showed that the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex would have affected ambient air quality. It has also affected health and pulmonary function and increased the concentrations of 1-OHP and heavy metals in urine samples of residents living nearby. We will need continuous monitoring of these environmental factors to investigate health effects in a more detailed manner.
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Absrtact

In order to long-term follow-up Yunlin residents’ health, a cohort study is necessary. With community-level support from the local health service and support from National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, we have begun to establish an epidemiological model for an environmental cohort study this year. From November 2009 to July 2011, we have conducted 21 community-based health screenings across 10 towns and villages, including Baojhong, Taisi, Sihhu, Dongshih, Mailiao, Lunbei, Erlun, Citong, Yuanchang and Huwei. In these screenings, a total of 2,613 area residents completed survey questionnaires: 2,587 completed pulmonary function tests, and 2,613 completed physical examinations. We also collected and tested 1,636 residents’ urine sample for 1–OHP and 1,156 resident’s urine samples for heavy metal. We have followed-up 736 cohort residents as well as 103 women who were pregnant and 49 of their babies. Our initial study divided these towns and villages into 3 geographic areas (A, B, and C), according to their distance to the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex, for comparison. Area A includes Mailiao and Taisi which are within 10km of, and nearby, the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex. Area B includes Baojhong, Sihhu, Dongshih and Lunbei, which are also within 10km of, but not nearby, the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex. Area C includes Erlun, Citong, Yuanchang and Huwei, which are located more than 10km from the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex. This study compared variables in these three areas. Our preliminary findings are these (1)The demographic information, health behaviors and living environment of residents in the study sample are not different among the three areas, (2)Five lung function test results (FVC percent predicted, FEV1 percent predicted, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75% predicted and PEF percent predicted) were similar between Area B and C , but the lung function of residents from the two areas was significantly better than of residents from Area A, which is located right next to the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex. (3) The abnormal rate of five biomarkers, including blood pressure, platelet, GOT(AST), GPT(ALT), and cholesterol(CHOL) were the highest in Area A, followed by Area B and then Area C. ( Abnormal rates were compared to the standard normal values provided by National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch. (4)Using HPLC to test urinary metabolites of PAH showed that the 1-hydroxypyren(1-OHP) concentrations were highest in samples from Area A followed by those from Area B and then those from Area C (5) Using ICP-MS to test urinary metabolites of heavy metal showed that the concentrations of metal Vanadium(V) and Manganese(Mn) were higher in samples from Area A than the other areas. In this study, air samples of VOCs were collected using canister, and samples of PM and PAHs were collected using Harvard impactor and Teflon filters (PTFE). The analysis methods employed for VOCs and PAHs and for heavy metals detection were the GC/MS method and the ICP/MS method respectively. This study incorporate data from an environmental monitoring study by Yunlin EPA, and found that：(1) The concentration of VOCs, including Ethylene, Propene, 1,3-Butadiene, Acrylonitrile, Ethene, Ethane, 1,2-dichloro- and Benzene, was higher at schools in Mailiao and Taisi, which are nearest the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex. Long-term exposure to Ethene、Benzene and1,3-butadiene could increase cancer risk. Ethylene released from the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex could also affect local agriculture in Yunlin. (2) The concentrations of PAHs (Benzo(k) fluoranthene, Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, Naphthalene and Phenanthrene) and heavy metal (Magnesium(Mg), Manganese(Mn), Lead(Pb), Barium(Ba), Strontium(Sr), Copper(Cu), Arsenic(As), Chromium(Cr), Rubidium(Rb), Selenium(Se) and Cadmium(Cd)) were higher at sites downwind of the complex. (3) Eight heavy metals, including Selenium(Se), Thallium(Tl), Arsenic(As), Cadmium(Cd), Cesium(Cs), Lead(Pb), Vanadium(V) and Rubidium(Rb) were the major source of PM2.5. Further analysis of data from air quality monitoring stations showed that the average annual hourly SO2 concentration in Taisi from 2006 to 2010 was significantly higher than Lunbei and Touliu. The main source of SO2 is coal-fired power generation, and we intend to use SO2 as an indicator of industrial pollution in an upcoming study. In conclusion, our data showed that the No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex would have affected ambient air quality. It has also affected health and pulmonary function and increased the concentrations of 1-OHP and heavy metals in urine samples of residents living nearby. We will need continuous monitoring of these environmental factors to investigate health effects in a more detailed manner.

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