Lung Function and Respiratory Health of Populations Living Close to Quarry Sites in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Study Design, Site, and Population
2.2. Study Sample
2.3. Questionnaire
2.4. Lung Function Test (Spirometry)
2.5. Data Collection
2.6. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Environmental Effects of Quarrying Activities on the Population Living Nearby
3.2. Reported Symptoms and Diseases
3.3. Lung Function
3.4. Mitigation Measures as Agreed by the Participants
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
Ethics Approval
References
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Variable | Exposed (n = 79) | Control (n = 79) | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|
Age * | 36.76 (11.4) | 31.92 (7.1) | 0.004 |
Sex † | |||
Men | 39 (49.4) | 8 (10.1) | 0.001 |
Women | 40 (50.6) | 71 (89.9) | 0.001 |
Years of education * | 13.00 (1.9) | 13.22 (1.8) | 0.8 |
Occupation † | |||
Office jobs | 11 (13.9) | 12 (15.2) | 0.5 |
Industries | 33 (41.8) | 10 (12.9) | 0.04 |
Education | 7 (8.9) | 10 (12.9) | 0.07 |
Not working | 28 (35.4) | 47 (59.5) | 0.05 |
Smoking †,ⁿ | 12 (15.2) | 2 (2.5) | 0.005 |
Height * | 169.83 (9.40) | 165.47 (6.93) | 0.001 |
Weight * | 72.99 (12.33) | 65.72 (9.22) | 0.007 |
Variable | Landscape in the Last 10 Years | Landscape Now | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
Vegetative | 53 | 67.1 | 16 | 20.3 |
Rocky | 12 | 15.2 | 15 | 16.5 |
Eroded | 5 | 6.3 | 8 | 10.1 |
Bare | 9 | 11.4 | 40 | 50.6 |
Self-Reported Symptoms and Diseases | Exposed (n = 79) N (%) | Control (n = 79) N (%) | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|
Chronic symptoms and diseases | |||
Asthma | 2 (2.5) | 0 | 0.49 |
Bronchitis | 2 (2.5) | 0 | 0.49 |
Rhinitis | 10 (12.7) | 2 (2.5) | 0.001 |
Eye or nasal allergy | 17 (21.5) | 2 (2.5) | 0.001 |
Eye tearing | 15 (19) | 1 (1.3) | 0.001 |
Eye soreness | 14 (17.7) | 1 (1.3) | 0.001 |
Eye dryness | 13 (16.5) | 2 (2.5) | 0.005 |
Hearing difficulty | 3 (3.8) | 0 | 0.24 |
Respiratory symptoms | |||
Wheezing or whistling in the chest for during the last 12 months | 5 (6.3) | 1 (1.3) | 0.21 |
Chest tightness during the last 12 months | 7 (8.9) | 1 (1.3) | 0.06 |
Shortness of breath at rest in the last 12 months | 14 (17.7) | 0 | 0.001 |
Shortness of breath after physical activity in the last 12 months | 20 (25.3) | 1 (1.3) | 0.001 |
Cough at night in the last 12 months | 9 (11.4) | 0 | 0.05 |
Cough first thing in the morning in the last 12 months | 6 (7.6) | 0 | 0.003 |
Lung Function Parameters | Exposed (n = 79) | Control (n = 79) | Difference † | p-Value | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean (%) | SD | Mean (%) | SD | Coefficient | 95% CI | ||
FVC (l) | 3.357 (84%) | 0.543 | 3.713 (102%) | 0.163 | 0.392 | 0.254–0.530 | 0.001 |
FEV1 (l) | 2.783 (88%) | 0.421 | 3.178 (108%) | 0.131 | 0.401 | 0.292–0.510 | 0.001 |
FEV1/FVC | 0.82 | 6.382 | 0.85 | 2.663 | 0.21 | 0.109–0.418 | 0.019 |
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Nemer, M.; Giacaman, R.; Husseini, A. Lung Function and Respiratory Health of Populations Living Close to Quarry Sites in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 6068. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176068
Nemer M, Giacaman R, Husseini A. Lung Function and Respiratory Health of Populations Living Close to Quarry Sites in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(17):6068. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176068
Chicago/Turabian StyleNemer, Maysaa, Rita Giacaman, and Abdullatif Husseini. 2020. "Lung Function and Respiratory Health of Populations Living Close to Quarry Sites in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 17: 6068. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176068