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Respiratory and sensory irritation symptoms among residents exposed to low-to-moderate air pollution from biodegradable wastes

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 24, pages 388–397 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Previous studies have reported increased occurrence of respiratory and sensory irritation symptoms among residents living close to biodegradable waste sites. However, few studies have been able to quantify direct and annoyance-mediated effects based on individual-specific assessments of chemical exposures. We examined associations between residential exposures to a proxy gas (ammonia, NH3) from biodegradable wastes (mainly from farming, animal and agricultural activities) and odor annoyance and six respiratory and sensory irritation symptoms (self-reported), using adjusted logistic regression models and mediation analyses. Individual-specific NH3 exposures (n=454) in residential environments during 2005–2010 were calculated by the Danish Eulerian long-range transport model and the local-scale transport deposition model. Residential NH3 exposure was associated with increased frequency of four symptoms, including “eyes itching, dryness or irritation” and “cough” (ORadj=1.69; 95% CI: 1.09–2.61 and ORadj=1.75; 95% CI: 1.12–2.74, for each unit increase in loge(NH3 exposure)). Odor annoyance mediated the effect of exposure on cough and three sensory irritation symptoms. Mediation was either full (indirect-only effects) or partial (direct and indirect effects). This study provides support for the existence of indirect associations between residential exposures to low-to-moderate air pollution from wastes and symptoms, as well as direct dose-response associations for some of the symptoms.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    Victoria Blanes-Vidal & Lars P Christensen

  2. Institute of Public Health, Research Unit of General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    Jesper Bælum

  3. Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Joel Schwartz

  4. Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark

    Per Løfstrøm

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  1. Victoria Blanes-Vidal
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Correspondence to Victoria Blanes-Vidal.

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Blanes-Vidal, V., Bælum, J., Schwartz, J. et al. Respiratory and sensory irritation symptoms among residents exposed to low-to-moderate air pollution from biodegradable wastes. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 24, 388–397 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2014.20

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