IMPACT OF CEMENT PRODUCTION EMISSIONS ON HEALTH: EFFECTS ON THE MORTALITY PATTERNS OF THE POPULATION LIVING IN THE VICINITY OF A CEMENT PLANT

The objective of the present study was to examine the possible health effects of the air pollution due to the presence of a cement plant situated in the centre of a town of 80.000 people. The study considered the mortality patterns of the local population comparing the incidence of specific air pollution related causes of death with that of the general population of the Province of Rome by means of the Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR), for two periods: 1983-1992 and 1993-2002. No statistically significant increased risk of mortality for all causes of death and from all neoplasm was observed in the exposed population in both periods studied. However, examining the single causes of death separately for males and females, we observed several interesting results. Among males, we found increased risks of death for causes typically associated with air pollution: respiratory diseases, in particular chronic bronchitis, and pneumoconiosis. These increased risks were statistically significant in the decade 1993-2002. In these years the plant expanded its production. Increased risks for males were also observed for cerebrovascular diseases in both decades, for diseases of the digestive system, and for injuries. These increases might be attributed to occupational exposures which were more likely among men, since the cement plant employed almost exclusively male workers. Among females, we found an increase in risk for hypertensive and cerebrovascular diseases (as observed also in males), and for diseases of the genitourinary system. Diabetes mellitus was also a significantly more frequent cause of death for women in both decades studied. Therefore, among women the excess mortality seems to be more associated with life style factors (ex. diet) rather than environmental pollution.