Health Effects of People Living Close to a Petrochemical Industrial Estate in Thailand
Pornpimol Kongtip PhD*, Panawadee Singkaew MS*, Witaya Yoosook PhD*, Suttinun Chantanakul MD*, Dusit Sujiratat MSc**
Affiliation : * Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : An acute health effect of people living near the petrochemical industrial estate in Thailand was assessed using a
panel study design.
Material and Method: The populations in communities near the petrochemical industrial estates were recruited. The daily air
pollutant concentrations, daily percentage of respiratory and other health symptoms reported were collected for 63 days. The
effect of air pollutants to reported symptoms of people were estimated by adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval
using binary logistic regression.
Results : The significant associations were found with the adjusted odds ratios of 38.01 for wheezing, 18.63 for shortness of
breath, 4.30 for eye irritation and 3.58 for dizziness for total volatile organic compounds (Total VOCs). The adjusted odds
ratio for carbon monoxide (CO2) was 7.71 for cough, 4.55 for eye irritation and 3.53 for weakness and the adjusted odds ratio
for ozone (O3) was 1.02 for nose congestion, sore throat and 1.05 for phlegm.
Conclusion : The results showed that the people living near petrochemical industrial estate had acute adverse health effects,
shortness of breath, eye irritation, dizziness, cough, nose congestion, sore throat, phlegm and weakness from exposure to
industrial air pollutants.
Keywords : Industrial air pollutants, Health effects, Petrochemical industrial estate
