Christopher Foy

Does living near a constellation of petrochemical, steel, and other industries impair health?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate concern that local industrial air pollution in Teesside, England, was causing poor health, several areas there were compared with parts of the City of Sunderland. METHODS: Populations in similar social and economic circumstances but varying in their proximity to major industries were compared. Study populations lived in 27 housing estates in Teesside and Sunderland, north east England, with some data from subsets of estates. The estates were aggregated into zones (designated as A, B, and C in Teesside where A is closest to and C furthest from industry, and S in Sunderland). Zone S provided a reference area. The hypothesis was that a health gradient both within Teesside (A > B > C) and between Teesside and Sunderland (ABC > S) would indicate a possible health effect of local industrial air pollution. Data presented were: mortality (1981-91) from 27 housing estates; population self completion questionnaire survey data (1993, 9115 subjects) from 15 housing estates; and general practitioner (GP) consultation data (1989-94) from 2201 subjects in 12 Teesside estates. RESULTS: The populations in the four zones were comparable for indicators including smoking habits, residential histories, and unemployment. All cause and cause specific mortalities were high compared with England and Wales. Mortality in all Teesside zones (ABC) combined was mostly higher than in zone S. In people aged 0-64, lung cancer and respiratory disease showed gradients with highest mortality in areas closest to industry (A > B > C and ABC > S). The association was clearest for lung cancer in women (0-64 years old, trend across zones ABC, p = 0.07, directly standardised rate ratio relative to zone S was 169 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 116-122)). There were no important, consistent gradients in the hypothesised direction between zones in consultation rates in general practice, and self reported respiratory and nonrespiratory health including asthma. CONCLUSIONS: There was no clear evidence that living close to industry was associated with morbidity, including asthma, or for most measures of mortality. For lung cancer in women the gradients indicated a health effect of local industrial air pollution. In the age group 0-64 observed gradients in lung cancer in men and mortality from respiratory disease in men and women were consistent with the study hypothesis, although not significant. The reasons for the different patterns at different ages, and between men and women, remain a puzzle.

'If this is what it's doing to our washing, what is it doing to our lungs?' Industrial pollution and public understanding in North-East England

An epidemiological study of the impact of industrial pollution from a cokeing works in north-east England on the health of a population resident nearby uncovered strong but localised public concern about the possible dangers of air pollution. This paper discusses these popular concerns in the context of empirical findings from the study which examined evidence of ill-health alongside evidence on air quality levels. The substantive issues this paper examines relate to local variations in popular beliefs about health risks, and the relation between such beliefs and measurable differences in health states and status. The methodological issues addressed centre on the difficulties of interpreting this relationship between popular beliefs and concerns, on the one hand, and health experience, or apparent health experience, on the other.

Residential proximity to industry and adverse birth outcomes

We studied birth statistics in women living at varying proximity to major steel and petrochemical industries in Teesside, UK. We found no evidence to support the hypothesis that living close to these major industries led to adverse birth outcomes.