Health effects related to environmental exposure in an industrial community

Environmental monitoring has shown relatively high levels of heavy metals like cadmium, mercury and lead in residential areas in the industrial town of Odda. The main objective of this project is to provide new knowledge about the association between envi ronmental exposure to chemical factors and health effects of the adult population in this industrial community. This is done by investigating whether the population in the most cadmium-polluted areas has an increased level of cadmium in their body, and wh ether there are signs of early effects on the kidney function for these residents. Cadmium is known to accumulate in the kidney, and the main critical effects include an increased excretion of low molecular weight proteins in urine as a result of proximal tubular cell damage. In recent years it has been recognised that signs of early tubular damage can develop at relatively low doses of environmental cadmium. Data will be obtained by a questionnaire study and through analysis of urine samples from randoml y selected residents from areas associated with high and low environmental exposure to cadmium. Furthermore this project will study respiratory symptoms and the health related quality of life among inhabitants in this community, which has a long history o f mixed airborne industrial pollution, compared to the corresponding parameters in communities with mainly traffic emission and with low airborne pollution, respectively. Data for this part of the study is obtained from The Hordaland Health Study 1997-199 9 (HUSK). Results from the project will provide important knowledge both for the local community, the industry and the authorities in the preventive work to reduce any health impact related to industrial pollution in the area. In addition the results may generate new hypothesis about environmental pollution and human health which could require more detailed studies on exposure parameters and related toxicology.