Respiratory Health Effects of Residents Living Near a Cement Plant in Puerto Rico

For over 60 years, the cement produced in Puerto Rico was generated by one plant located in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Residents have complained that the pollution associated with this industry was responsible for their respiratory problems. Community leaders presented this issue to the School of Public Health and petitioned a study that could provide scientific evidence to empower them in their quest for environmental justice. MPH students (Biostatistics and Epidemiology) conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate prevalence of respiratory diseases in two geographical areas in Ponce. One area, located close to the cement plant and the other, the comparison community, was upwind, thus less affected by fugitive dust from the cement plant. A probability sample of 280 household was selected with a response rate of 91%. A personal interview with a standardized questionnaire was administered to obtain lifestyles, socio-demographic, history of occupation information, household characteristics and health conditions specially respiratory diseases. Sixty-six percent(66.4%) of the participants living near the cement plant had at least one of five respiratory conditions (asthma, bronchitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, laryngitis) during the previous year in comparison with 48% in the control community. The POR adjusted for smoking, age and education was 2.60 (p < 0.001). The results of this study provides evidence needed for the establishment of public policies to enforce compliance with air quality standards. Vulnerable populations need special enforcement laws that go beyond standards that apply to the general population.