Health risks of residential exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Arch Environ Health. 2003 Feb;58(2):111-8. doi: 10.3200/AEOH.58.2.111-118.

Abstract

A disease prevalence study and follow-up health surveillance were conducted among residents of an African-American community situated at the site of a former creosote wood-treatment facility contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Household interviews were conducted among 214 residents living around the hazardous waste site (target population) and 212 comparison residents in a neighborhood 2.4 km away from the site. Target area residents reported a higher prevalence of skin rashes than comparison residents (relative risk [RR] = 5.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.0, 10.9). The prevalence of reported rashes increased with increasing levels of anthracene detected in yards (test for linear trend, p = 0.02). With adjustment for environmental worry, reports of chronic bronchitis and difficulties becoming pregnant did not differ significantly between target and comparison residents (p > 0.05).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anthracenes / adverse effects
  • Black or African American
  • Bronchitis, Chronic / epidemiology*
  • Bronchitis, Chronic / etiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Creosote / adverse effects
  • Dermatitis / epidemiology*
  • Dermatitis / etiology
  • Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Hazardous Waste / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Exposure / statistics & numerical data
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / adverse effects*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Texas / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anthracenes
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Creosote
  • anthracene