Association between Exposure to Components of Pulp and Paper Industry Emissions and Diseases in Children

Abstract

Introduction: To improve the efficiency of prevention and elimination of adverse health effects of airborne chemicals in children and adults, the industrially developed regions of Russian Federation face an urgent task of establishing the relationship between exposure to industrial emissions and diseases observed in the local population. The objective of our study was to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between inhalation exposure to components of pulp and paper industry emissions and health disorders in children. Materials and methods: We carried out ambient air quality testing in the residential area, established target organs and systems, assessed non-carcinogenic risk, conducted an in-depth child health examination, and modeled cause-effect relationships. Results: We established that phenol, benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene were constantly present in the air in the vicinity of the pulp and paper mill. Their concentrations were up to 4.83 and 9.55 times higher than the average daily and one-time maximum permissible concentrations, respectively. High concentrations of chemicals posed unacceptable chronic non-carcinogenic risk of developing diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems, liver, and kidney, as well as acute non-carcinogenic risk of diseases of the immune system. Elevated (up to 1.5 times) blood levels of phenol and xylenes were associated with a 2.3 times higher incidence rate of allergic respiratory diseases and an almost 1.5 times higher incidence of digestive diseases. We established the relationship between blood phenol and xylene levels and a higher incidence of allergic respiratory diseases and diseases of the biliary tract, an increased eosinophil count, nasal mucus eosinophilia, higher direct and total bilirubin in serum. Conclusion: Laboratory test results proved the relationship between inhalation exposure to phenol and xylene as components of pulp and paper industry emissions and higher incidence of diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems observed in the local child population.