The Impact of Israeli industrial Zone On Human Health in Tulkarm District: A Preliminary Study

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Date
2001
Authors
Issam Mohammed Qasem
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The present study was conducted on 2471 subjects (250 families) residing in the West of the City of Tulkarm and on 1896 control subject group (200 families) in an urban area within the same district. The main aim was to evaluate the impact of air pollution resulting from the Israeli industrial zone based on the west of Tulkarm district on human health. Among the study group disease related symptoms for respiratory, skin and eye symptoms were represented by 7.6%, 4.2% and 3.5%, respectively. in comparison, disease related symptoms among the control group were represented by 2.4% for respiratory tract, 4% for skin and 3.5% for eye. Differences in the prevalence rates of disease related symptoms were significant between the tow—studied groups especially for respiratory disease related symptoms with a P value of 0.002. With respect to gender differences, on the occurrence of respiratory disease related symptoms, females were represented with a higher frequency in both the study and control groups. Slight differences were observed concerning skin related symptoms in favor of males. On the other hand slight differences were observed concerning eye related disease symptoms in favor of females. The most affected age groups with respiratory disease related symptoms were the age groups 0-10, 11-20 and 41-50 or greater. The young age group constituted around 30% of the affected subjects, however, the elder group represented 67% of the cases. Similar findings were observed regarding skin disease related symptoms. Eye related disease symptoms were more prevalent among middle age groups. The frequencies for respiratory related symptoms were 50.8%, 46%, 32% and 48% for breathing difficulties, asthma, throat infection, and nasal obstruction, respectively. Around 55% of those with respiratory related disease symptoms seem to visit clinics and 90% of them seem to require medication. Similar findings were observed among the control- group. Skin related disease symptoms including the presence of pimples or rash and itching were represented by 100% and 37%, respectively among the study group. Out of 105 affected subjects, 81(77%) of them visited clinics and 86% of them needed medications. Similar findings were observed among the control group. Eye related disease symptoms including the infections; inflammation and itching were represented by 83% and 71%, respectively among the study group, Out of84 subjects suffering from eye related disease symptoms, 60(71%) visited clinics and 88% of them required medication. Association between the presence of smoke and disease related symptoms is clear from the finding of 36,7%, 42% and 66.6% of families suffering from respiratory, skin and eye disease related symptoms, among the study group, respectively. Differences between the study and control groups in this respect were also clear. Findings on smoke intensity were also in support of the association between smoke and the studied disease related symptoms. Among the study group, families with previous history of respiratory, skin and eye diseases were represented by 13.6%, 8% and 17.1%, respectively. This confirms the association between air pollution and the occurrence of disease.
The present study was conducted on 2471 subjects (250 families) residing in the West of the City of Tulkarm and on 1896 control subject group (200 families) in an urban area within the same district. The main aim was to evaluate the impact of air pollution resulting from the Israeli industrial zone based on the west of Tulkarm district on human health. Among the study group disease related symptoms for respiratory, skin and eye symptoms were represented by 7.6%, 4.2% and 3.5%, respectively. in comparison, disease related symptoms among the control group were represented by 2.4% for respiratory tract, 4% for skin and 3.5% for eye. Differences in the prevalence rates of disease related symptoms were significant between the tow—studied groups especially for respiratory disease related symptoms with a P value of 0.002. With respect to gender differences, on the occurrence of respiratory disease related symptoms, females were represented with a higher frequency in both the study and control groups. Slight differences were observed concerning skin related symptoms in favor of males. On the other hand slight differences were observed concerning eye related disease symptoms in favor of females. The most affected age groups with respiratory disease related symptoms were the age groups 0-10, 11-20 and 41-50 or greater. The young age group constituted around 30% of the affected subjects, however, the elder group represented 67% of the cases. Similar findings were observed regarding skin disease related symptoms. Eye related disease symptoms were more prevalent among middle age groups. The frequencies for respiratory related symptoms were 50.8%, 46%, 32% and 48% for breathing difficulties, asthma, throat infection, and nasal obstruction, respectively. Around 55% of those with respiratory related disease symptoms seem to visit clinics and 90% of them seem to require medication. Similar findings were observed among the control- group. Skin related disease symptoms including the presence of pimples or rash and itching were represented by 100% and 37%, respectively among the study group. Out of 105 affected subjects, 81(77%) of them visited clinics and 86% of them needed medications. Similar findings were observed among the control group. Eye related disease symptoms including the infections; inflammation and itching were represented by 83% and 71%, respectively among the study group, Out of84 subjects suffering from eye related disease symptoms, 60(71%) visited clinics and 88% of them required medication. Association between the presence of smoke and disease related symptoms is clear from the finding of 36,7%, 42% and 66.6% of families suffering from respiratory, skin and eye disease related symptoms, among the study group, respectively. Differences between the study and control groups in this respect were also clear. Findings on smoke intensity were also in support of the association between smoke and the studied disease related symptoms. Among the study group, families with previous history of respiratory, skin and eye diseases were represented by 13.6%, 8% and 17.1%, respectively. This confirms the association between air pollution and the occurrence of disease.
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