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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Manuel Bayona, MD, PhD¹, Norman Trieff, PhD, CIH(Retired)², Antonio Rene, MPH, PhD³, Surya M. Artham, MD, MPH⁴, Sandra Noffsinger¹, Carolina Alvarez-Garriga, MD, DrPH¹, and Tearrence Gratton, DrPH². (1) School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, Lombardi/ 274, Reno, NV 89557, (775)7844041 Ext. 238, mbayona@unr.edu, (2) Department of Enviromental and Ocupational Health, University of North Texas, Health Science Center, School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, (3) Department of Epidemiology, Texas A & M School of Rural Public Health, 1266 TAMU, SRPH Building, College Station, TX 77843, (4) Department of Epidemiology, University of North Texas, Health Science Center, School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107

This study is based on the data of Midlothian, which is a small community 30 miles south of Dallas Texas. The pollution in this area is due to the three cement plants which use the largest cement kiln in the country.

The purpose was to assess if severity and risk of mortality of asthma was higher in Midlothian area, as compared to the rest of Texas.

Data was analyzed by means of multinomial logistic regression using the rest of Texas population as the reference group. The age, gender and ethnicity adjusted odds ratio was used as a measure of association.

Comparing severity, Midlothian and North Midlothian areas have 5.3 and 1.6 times more likelihood to have severe asthma compared to the rest of Texas. Comparing risk of mortality, Midlothian and North Midlothian areas have 4.3 and 2.7 times of higher asthma mortality when compared to the rest of Texas in relation.

These results are consistent with epidemiological studies relating increased asthma prevalence and cement kilns. However, this is the first time that the impact of such pollution on the severity and risk of mortality of asthma has been studied. Exposure to this type of pollution should be avoided especially for asthma patients.

Key Words: Environmental health, asthma epidemiology and mortality

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, the participants will be able to

• Describe the importance of outdoor environmental polution and asthma mortality.
• Identify the epidemiological methods for the study of outdoor environmental factors and asthma.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered