%0 Journal Article
%T Ecological Study on Hospitalizations for Cancer, Cardiovascular, and Respiratory Diseases in the Industrial Area of Etang-de-Berre in the South of France
%A Laurence Pascal
%A Mathilde Pascal
%A Morgane Stempfelet
%A Sarah Goria
%A Christophe Declercq
%J Journal of Environmental and Public Health
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/328737
%X The Etang-de-Berre area is a large industrialized area in the South of France, exposing 300,000 inhabitants to the plumes of its industries. The possible associated health risks are of the highest concern to the population, who asked for studies investigating their health status. A geographical ecological study based on standardized hospitalizations ratios for cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases was carried out over the 2004¨C2007 period. Exposure to air pollution was assessed using dispersion models coupled with a geographic information system to estimate an annual mean concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO2) for each district. Results showed an excess risk of hospitalization for myocardial infarction in women living in districts with medium or high SO2 exposure, respectively, 38% [CI 95% 4£¿:£¿83] and 54% [14£¿:£¿110] greater than women living in districts at the reference level exposure. A 26% [2£¿:£¿57] excess risk of hospitalization for myocardial infarction was also observed in men living in districts with high SO2 levels. No excess risk of hospitalization for respiratory diseases or for cancer was observed, except for acute leukemia in men only. Results illustrate the impact of industrial air pollution on the cardiovascular system and call for an improvement of the air quality in the area. 1. Introduction Relationships between urban air pollution and hospitalizations for cardiorespiratory causes are well established in many studies around the world [1¨C3] and in France [4]. By comparison, published studies about the health effects of industrial air pollution on population living near industries are sparse, and few studies investigate the impact of industrial air pollution on cardiovascular or respiratory hospitalizations [5¨C7]. This paper presents the first study on the impacts of industrial air pollution on cardiorespiratory hospitalizations, in one of the largest industrial areas in France. The Etang-de-Berre area is a large pond (0.15£¿km2) surrounded by three major industrial complexes gathering several oil refineries, chemical plants, ironworks, metal plants, a waste incineration plant, an airport, and the largest French seaport [8, 9]. This industrial area located in the Provence-Alpes-C£¿te d¡¯Azur region has experienced a strong economic growth since the 70s. The population has doubled between 1970 and 2000, and, today, about 300,000 inhabitants are more or less exposed to the plumes of industries. The contribution of the Etang-de-Berre area to the regional emissions is estimated at 58% for sulfur dioxide (SO2), 13% for particulate matter
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2013/328737/