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Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 8/2015

01-11-2015 | Original Article

Effects of sulfur dioxide on the respiratory system of Miyakejima child residents 6 years after returning to the island

Authors: Satoko Iwasawa, Makiko Nakano, Tazuru Tsuboi, Takeshi Kochi, Shigeru Tanaka, Toshio Katsunuma, Akihiro Morikawa, Kazuyuki Omae

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 8/2015

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Abstract

Objectives

This study investigated the health effects of volcanic gas, mainly sulfur dioxide (SO2), exposure on the children of Miyakejima Island.

Methods

Health checkups were conducted in November from 2006 to 2011. Health effects were evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire on respiratory and irritative symptoms, and spirometry. SO2 was measured continuously from February 2005 onward at six fixed monitoring stations in inhabitable areas. Based on mean SO2 concentration during 3 months before each health checkup, inhabitable areas were classified into three categories: (1) lower (area L); (2) higher (area H-1); and (3) highest (area H-2).

Results

Average concentrations (ppb) of SO2 decreased year-by-year and ranged from 11.3 to 2.47 in area L, from 32.2 to 12.2 in area H-1, and from 75.1 to 12.1 in area H-2, respectively. In general, prevalence of respiratory and irritative symptoms was higher in area H-2, and the prevalence decreased year-by-year in all three areas by Cochran–Armitage test for trend. We defined a study population in area L in 2008 as a reference population because we had no unexposed population. Applying a logistic regression model, age-, sex-, and hypersusceptibility-adjusted prevalence odds ratios to the reference population showed clear exposure-dependent increases in some irritative symptoms such as “Irritation and/or pain in throat” and “in eyes,” and approximately 30 ppb seemed to be the threshold concentration. Spirometry did not show any significant differences.

Conclusions

Though no pulmonary functions were affected, some subjective symptoms were detected dose-dependently by SO2 exposure concentration in child residents during the 6 years after the eruption.
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Metadata
Title
Effects of sulfur dioxide on the respiratory system of Miyakejima child residents 6 years after returning to the island
Authors
Satoko Iwasawa
Makiko Nakano
Tazuru Tsuboi
Takeshi Kochi
Shigeru Tanaka
Toshio Katsunuma
Akihiro Morikawa
Kazuyuki Omae
Publication date
01-11-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 8/2015
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1037-y

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