SELF REPORTED RESPIRATORY AND IRRITANT HEALTH EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL AIR POLLUTANTS ON THE RESIDENTS IN THE PROXIMITY OF ISLAMABAD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The deterioration of air quality is associated with the emissions of pollutants from industrial units and other anthropogenic sources. Increased emissions by industries create chronic as well as acute health outcomes in the people who are living in close proximity. The objective of this study is to measure the association of self-reported chronic respiratory symptoms and acute irritation symptoms with the proximity of the residence with the Industrial Estate Islamabad (IEI). In addition to it, preventive measures adopted by the residents of the study area in response to industrial air pollution have also been assessed in detail. This current cross sectional study has compared two groups based on the distance from Industrial Estate of Islamabad i.e. band I (presence of residence within 650 range) and band II (presence of residence in more than 650 meters but less than 1300 meters). The perimeter of Islamabad Industrial Estate was digitized using Google Earth (version 7), and was imported into a Geographical Information System (ArcGIS version 10.0, Erick.). Distances were then calculated from the respondent’s residence to the outer digitized boundary (perimeter) of Industrial Estate of Islamabad (IEI). Multiple Logistic regression has been used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) by adjusting potential confounders. Results reveal that there is an increasing odds ratio of an adoption of preventive measure by respondents of distance band I in relation to distance band II as they are affected more. As in band I, there is significantly increasing odds ratio of chronic respiratory symptoms (Chronic bronchitis OR 1.93 (1.05 - 3.55), Phlegm OR 2.5 (1.4 - 4.5), Dyspnoea OR 2.18 (0.3 - 1.81) and of Acute irritation symptoms (Eye irritation OR 2.59 (1.63 - 3.90), Throat irritation OR 1.782 (0.876 - 2.725). Hence, results suggest that there is an increased risk of chronic respiratory and acute irritation problems as well as increased adoption of preventive measures by respondents living in distance band I with reference to distance band II.