Respiratory system symptoms in the neighborhood of a wastewater treatment plant

Abstract

The aim of our study was to assess the incidence of respiratory system disorders among residents in the neighborhood of a wastewater treatment plant compared to the population living outside the impact area. We conducted a questionnaire survey on two populations: one from the vicinity of the wastewater treatment plant (586 people) and another from a village located far away from the plant (502 people). Studied populations were also divided according to place of residence and distance from the plant: zones A, B, C. Survey questions concerned the respiratory system symptoms and housing conditions. Respondents from the exposed group reported the following symptoms more often than the control group: frequent colds, recurrent respiratory tract infections, throat irritation, dyspnoea, recurrent rhinitis, and nasal irritation/ burning sensation. Among the risk factors for respiratory disorders, significant were: living in blocks of flats (OR = 1.78; CI 1.13-2.81), air pollution by odours (OR = 1.64; CI 1.04-2.56), period of residence (OR = 1.02; CI 1.00-1.03) and age of respondents (OR = 0.98; CI 0.97-0.98), while the ownership of pets had a protective effect (OR<1). Reported symptoms were also associated with air pollution by staphylococci (OR~5). The obtained results show that proximity to a wastewater treatment plant deteriorates the health of nearby residents.