Influence of industrial sources on children's health – Hot spot studies in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.02.007

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

Volume 210, Issue 5, 31 October 2007, Pages 591-599

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.02.007 Get rights and content

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate exposure and health outcome of children living close to industrial sources. Exposure and health outcome was assessed in nearly 1000 children at school beginner age living in the vicinity of industrial sources of three different hot spots (Duisburg North, Duisburg South and Dortmund Hörde) and in a rural area of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW), Germany. The cross-sectional study was undertaken between March and May 2000. Exposure assessment comprised modelling of ambient air quality data and human biomonitoring (HBM). Depending on the site-specific contaminants, HBM included the measurement of PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and benzene metabolites in urine as well as heavy metals in blood and urine. Markers of early effects were DNA strand breaks as measured by the comet assay in lymphocytes and excretion of α-1-microglobuline and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosamidase in urine. Health outcome was assessed by questionnaire, lung function test, dermatological examination as well as by RAST (radioallergosorbent test), patch tests and prick tests. The influence of exposure variables on biomarkers and health outcome was measured by means of multiple linear and logistic regression analysis. The most striking results were as follows. Children living close to a coke oven plant (Duisburg North) had increased levels of PAH metabolites in urine, and DNA exposure was increased. Children living at the Dortmund Hörde hot spot (increased chromium and nickel ambient air levels from a steel mill) revealed a high prevalence of allergic sensitizations. Sensitization, especially against nickel, was associated with the current internal nickel exposure, and nickel in ambient air was positively associated with the frequency of allergic symptoms. Children from the hot spot areas had increased specific airway resistance and total lung capacity as compared to those of the reference area. In Duisburg North particularly, specific airway resistance and total lung capacity significantly increased with increasing TSP (total suspended particulate). The only positive associations between external and internal exposure were found between benzo[a]pyrene in ambient air and 1-hydroxypyrene in urine, and between lead in ambient air and in the blood of the children. It is concluded that despite improvements of the general air quality during the last decades, living in the vicinity of industrial sources results to some extent in increased internal contaminant exposure and in effects on health outcome. Still ongoing studies are aimed to find out whether the increased PAH and DNA exposure of children from Duisburg North had decreased after the coke oven plant had been shut down in 2003, and if the striking results on the high prevalence of allergic sensitization can be confirmed by introducing an expanded cross-sectional study at four hot spots with increased chromium and nickel ambient air levels.

Introduction

North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) with the Ruhr District is an important agglomeration area for coal mining, steel production and other heavy industries in central Europe. Within the framework of the clean air action plans of the state government of NRW several large environmental health surveys were started in the 1970s. From 1985 up to 1997 nine consecutive cross-sectional studies with children (school beginners) and middle-aged women (55 year old) were undertaken. A summary of the human biomonitoring (HBM) results of these studies has been published recently (Wilhelm et al., 2007).

As in many parts of the world, ambient air quality has improved during the last decades. For example, in the Rhine Ruhr region cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) levels in ambient air (annual means, urban background) decreased from 11 to 0.44 ng/m³ for Cd and from 1.13 to 0.02 μg/m³ for Pb between 1974 and 2005 (LUA, 2006). However, despite successful programs to improve air quality, ambient air levels of contaminants in the vicinity of certain industrial sources, frequently located closely to residential areas, may still be increased, and health concerns are raised due to the possible exposure and exposure-related health effects especially of children living close to such sources.

In 2000 the North Rhine Westphalia State Environment Agency identified three “hot spot” areas. These were characterized by increased total suspended particulate (TSP) levels and site specific air pollutants such as benzo[a]pyrene, benzene, Cd, Pb, chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). The aim of this study was to evaluate the hot spot specific influence of air pollution on internal contaminant exposure and on health effects such as upper respiratory irritations and infections as well as symptoms of allergy and sensitization. This paper will give an overview on the results. Special aspects will be published in separate papers.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Table 1 gives an overview on the hot spots and the study design.

Study groups

The characteristics of the study groups are summarized in Table 2.

External exposure assessment

The personal total suspended particulate (TSP) exposure of the children is summarized in Table 3. Personal Cd levels in ambient air (n=239) ranged from 1.5 to 31 ng/m³ in Duisburg South compared to 0.5 ng/m³ in Borken (n=215). Pb levels ranged from 0.05 to 0.73 μg/m³ in Duisburg South (n=239) compared to 0.03 μg/m³ in Borken (n=215). The values partly exceeded the current German limit values for Cd and Pb in ambient air. The Ni

Discussion

This study clearly shows that despite improved air quality during the last decades “hot spot” emissions still occur and children living in the vicinity of industrial sources are at risk of increased internal contaminant exposure and increased health effects when compared to children from a reference area.

However, most HBM results (metals, benzene metabolites) of this study indicate that the internal exposure of the children to contaminants was rather low as compared with other studies, with

Perspective

The main industrial source in Duisburg North, a coke oven plant, has been shut down in 2003. Therefore in 2005 a repeated cross-sectional study and a follow-up study were carried out to find out if the increased internal PAH exposure and DNA exposure of children living in Duisburg North has dropped. A further cross-sectional study with children was introduced in 2005/6 at four different hot spots with increased Cr and Ni ambient air levels to evaluate if increased exposure to Cr and Ni from

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the North Rhine Westphalia State Ministry for Environment and Nature Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Düsseldorf, Germany. We thank the Sanitary Boards in Borken, Duisburg and Dortmund for their excellent support and all parents and children for their participation.

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Influence of industrial sources on children's health – Hot spot studies in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Study groups

External exposure assessment

Discussion

Perspective

Acknowledgments

Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health

J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol.

Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health

Allergotoxicology—A research concept to study the role of environmental pollutants in allergy

All. Clin. Immunol. Int.

Association of lung function with declining ambient air pollution

Environ. Health Perspect.

Metal composition of ambient PM2.5 influences severity of allergic airways diseases in mice

Environ. Health. Perspect.

Improved air quality in reunified Germany and decreases in respiratory symptoms

Epidemiology

Metal composition of ambient PM_2.5 influences severity of allergic airways diseases in mice