Acute Health Effects Associated with Exposure to Volcanic Air Pollution (vog) from Increased Activity at Kilauea Volcano in 2008
| Autor: | Joshua B. Green, Bernadette M. Longo, Vickie L. Crosby, Wang Yang, Frederick L. Crosby |
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| Rok vydání: | 2010 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Male Vog medicine.medical_specialty Time Factors Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis Respiratory Tract Diseases Poison control Volcanic Eruptions Toxicology Acute Pharyngitis Risk Assessment Hawaii Occupational safety and health Cohort Studies Sex Factors Environmental health Injury prevention Humans Sulfur Dioxide Medicine Air Pollutants business.industry Retrospective cohort study Environmental Exposure Health Surveys Surgery Acute Disease Regression Analysis Pacific islanders Female business Cohort study |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A. 73:1370-1381 |
| ISSN: | 1087-2620 1528-7394 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/15287394.2010.497440 |
| Popis: | In 2008, the Kilauea Volcano on the island of Hawai'i increased eruption activity and emissions of sulfurous volcanic air pollution called vog. The purpose of this study was to promptly assess for a relative increase in cases of medically diagnosed acute illnesses in an exposed Hawaiian community. Using a within-clinic retrospective cohort design, comparisons were made for visits of acute illnesses during the 14 wk prior to the increased volcanic emissions (low exposure) to 14 wk of high vog exposure when ambient sulfur dioxide was threefold higher and averaged 75 parts per billion volume per day. Logistic regression analysis estimated effect measures between the low- and high-exposure cohorts for age, gender, race, and smoking status. There were statistically significant positive associations between high vog exposure and visits for medically diagnosed cough, headache, acute pharyngitis, and acute airway problems. More than a sixfold increase in odds was estimated for visits with acute airway problems, primarily experienced by young Pacific Islanders. These findings suggest that the elevated volcanic emissions in 2008 were associated with increased morbidity of acute illnesses in age and racial subgroups of the general Hawaiian population. Continued investigation is crucial to fully assess the health impact of this natural source of sulfurous air pollution. Culturally appropriate primary- and secondary-level health prevention initiatives are recommended for populations in Hawai'i and volcanically active areas worldwide. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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