The Fort Saskatchewan and area community exposure and health effects assessment program: final report

200 Pages·2003·15.6 MB·English

by  Alberta. Health Surveillance

Fort Saskatchewan and
Area Community Exposure
and Health Effects REPO
Assessment Program
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HEALTH AND WELLNESS
'ASPEN
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2017 with funding from
University of Alberta Libraries
https://archive.org/details/fortsaskatchewan2003albe
The Fort Saskatchewan and Area Community
Exposure and Health Effects Assessment
Final Report
June 2003
Final Report
The Fort Saskatchewan and Area Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program is the third in a
series of reports published by the Health Surveillance Branch at Alberta Health and Wellness.
Other publications in this series include:
The Grande Prairie and Area Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program: Final Report, 2002
The Alberta Oil Sands Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program: Summary Report, 2000.
The Alberta Oil Sands Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program: Technical Report, 2000.
The Alberta Oil Sands Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program: Methods Report, 2000.
The Alberta Oil Sands Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program: Pilot Study Report, 1997.
f o r more information or copies of any of these documents contact:
Health Surveillance
Alberta Health and Wellness
24lh Floor Telus Plaza North tower
P.O. Box 1360
10025 - J asper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 2N3
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Internet: www.health.gov.ab.ca
ISBN (0-7785-2669-0)
ISBN (0-7785-2670-4); PDF version
Final Report
Acknowledgements
This report provides the results of a community exposure and health effects assessment conducted in Fort
Saskatchewan and the surrounding area during the summer and fall of 2001. The assessment used a
protocol developed in Alberta to assess personal exposure and the potential health impact of airborne
contaminants.
This report would not have been possible without the valuable contributions made by:
Science Team
Dr. Siu Chan Centre for Toxicology
Jasna Dmitrovic Centre for Toxicology
Dr. Stephan Gabos Alberta Health and Wellness
Alex MacKenzie Alberta Health and Wellness
Jonathan Robb Alberta Health and Wellness
Dr. Donald Schopflocher Alberta Health and Wellness
Alberta Health and Wellness
Dr. Fu-Lin Wang
Project Advisory Group
Dr. Randy Angle Alberta Environment
Randall Barrett Alberta Environment
Dr. Nicholas Bayliss Lakeland Regional Health Authority
Dr. Stephan Gabos Alberta Health and Wellness
Valerie Holowach Fort Air Partnership
Dr. Linton Kulak Shell Canada
Alex MacKenzie Alberta Health and Wellness
David Onuczko Northeast Capital Industrial Association
Dr. Gerry Predy Capital Health Authority
Keith Purves Fort Air Partnership
Jonathan Robb Alberta Health and Wellness
Warren Sarchuk Fort Air Partnership
Dr. Paul Schnee Aspen Regional Health Authority
A1 Schultz Northeast Capital Industrial Association
Dr. Wil VandenBorn Dow Chemical
Health Surveillance Staff Consultants
Susan Shaw Erik Ellehoj
Regena Wiseman Ljubica Mladenov
Dennis Prince
Lakeland Health Authority Staff Field Coordinator
Wendy Corbiere Amylee Milke
Judy Polansky
The Science Team would also like to gratefully acknowledge the contributions made by all volunteers in
Fort Saskatchewan and surrounding areas whose participation in the program was critical to the success
of the study.
Final Report
Table of Contents
1.0 Executive Summary 1
1.1 Objectives 1
1.2 .Methods and Analysis 1
1.3 Significant Findings 1
1.4 Recommendations 3
2.0 Introduction 4
3.0 Background and Rationale 5
4.0 Program Objectives 6
5.0 Study Method and Protocol 7
5.1 Sample Selection and Recruitment 7
5.2 Study Design 7
5.3 Study Logistics 10
5.4 Exposure Monitoring Procedures 12
5.5 Neurocognitive Functioning 16
5.6 Questionnaires 16
5.7 Biological Tests 16
5.8 Health Records Analysis 17
6.0 Characteristics of the Sample 18
6.1 Sample Size 20
6.2 Age and Gender 20
6.3 Marital Status 21
6.4 Education 22
6.5 Language 22
6.6 Occupation 22
6.7 Income 23
6.8 Smoking 24
6.9 Body Mass Index 24
6.10 Nutritional Intake 25
6.1 1 Local Wild Food Sources 25
6.12 Sources of Drinking Water 25
6. 1 3 Physical Activity Level 25
6.14 Meteorological Data 26
6.15 Time Activity Diaries 26
7.0 Air-Borne Contaminants 28
7.1 Passive Samplers 28
7.2 Particulate Samplers 58
Exposure Relationships 62
8.1 A G eneral Model of Potential Relationships 62
8.2 Methods of Analysis 65
Presentation of Results 65
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO:) 67
Sulfur Dioxide (S()2) 70
Final Report
8.6 Ozone (O3) 73
8.7 Volatile Organic Compounds 76
8.8 Summary of Exposure Relationships for Passive Samplers 101
8.9 Particulate Analysis: PM2.5 102
9.0 Biomarkers of Exposure 106
10.0 Biomarkers of Effect 107
10.1 Autoantibodies 107
10.2 Lung Function 108
10.3 Neurocognitive Functioning 109
11.0 Measures of Health 125
11.1 Occupational Health Questionnaire 126
1 1.2 General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) 127
1 1.3 Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF -36) 127
11.4 Previous Diagnoses 129
12.0 Analysis of Health Records 131
12.1 Morbidity of Respiratory Disorders 132
12.2 Mortality of Selected Causes of Death 136
12.3 Comparison of Overall Illness: Participants vs. the General Population 139
12.4 Summary of Analysis of Health Records 140
13.0 Exposure Sources 140
13.1 Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 141
13.2 Nitrogen Dioxide (N02) 143
13.3 Ozone 144
14.0 Conclusions 145
14.1 The Study Sample 145
14.2 Measures of Exposure 145
14.3 Measures of Health 147
15.0 Discussion 147
16.0 Abbreviations 150
17.0 Definitions 151
18.0 Endnotes 155
Appendix A: Measuring Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
Final Report
List of Figures
Figure 1: Continuum of Exposure 5
Figure 2: Passive Sampler Data Compared to Ambient Station Data for N02 14
Figure 3: Passive Sampler Data Compared to Ambient Station Data for S02 14
Figure 4: Passive Sampler Data Compared to Ambient Station Data for 03 15
Figure 5: Distribution of Urban Participants 18
Figure 6: Distribution of Rural Participants 19
Figure 7: Age and Gender Distribution 21
Figure 8: Marital Status 21
Figure 9: Education Level 22
Figure 10: Distribution of Household Income 23
Figure 1 1 : Distribution of Body Mass Index 24
Figure 1 2: Wind Rose Diagram Showing Wind Characteristics During the Study 26
Figure 13: Average Proportion of Time in a D ay 27
Figure 14: Distribution of Nitrogen Dioxide 31
Figure 15: Temporal trend in Nitrogen Dioxide Concentration 32
Figure 16: Relationship between Exposures to Nitrogen Dioxide by Sampler Site 33
Figure 17: Distribution of Sulfur Dioxide 34
Figure 18: Temporal Trend in Sulfur Dioxide Concentration 35
Figure 19: Relationship between Exposures to Sulfur Dioxide by Sampler Site 35
Figure 20: Distribution of Ozone 36
Figure 21 : T emporal Trend in Ozone Concentration 37
Figure 22: Relationship between Exposures to Ozone by Sampler Site 38
Figure 23: Distribution of Hexane 39
Figure 24: Temporal Trend in Hexane Concentration 39
Figure 25: Relationship between Exposures to Hexane by Sampler Site 40
Figure 26: Distribution of 3-methylhexane 40
Figure 27: Temporal Trend in 3-methylhexane Concentration 41
Figure 28: Relationship between Exposures to 3-methylhexane by Sampler Site 41
Figure 29: Distribution of Benzene 42
Figure 30: Temporal Trend in Benzene Concentration 43
Figure 3 1 : Relationship between Exposures to Benzene by Sampler Site 44
Figure 32: Distribution of Heptane 44
Figure 33: Temporal Trend in Heptane Concentration 45
Figure 34: Relationship between Exposures to Heptane by Sampler Site 45
Figure 35: Distribution of Toluene 46
c 3 6: Temporal Trend in Toluene Concentration 46
7: Relationship between Exposures to Toluene by Sampler Site 47
8: Distribution of Octane 47
F T emporal Trend in Octane Concentration 48
: 4 0: Relationship between Exposures to Octane by Sampler Site 48
I : Distribution of Ethylbenzene 49
l: Temporal Trend in Ethylbenzene Concentration 49
lationship between Exposures to Ethylbenzene by Sampler Site 50
union of m-, p-xylene 50
il Trend in m-, p-xylene Concentration 51
een Exposures to m-, p-xylene by Sampler Site 51
f O - Xylene 52
Final Report
Figure 48: Temporal Trend in o-xylene Concentration 52
Figure 49: Relationship between Exposures to o-xylene by Sampler Site 53
Figure 50: Distribution of Nonane 53
Figure 51: Temporal Trend in Nonane Concentration 54
Figure 52: Relationship between Exposures to Nonane by Sampler Site 54
Figure 53: Distribution of Decane 55
Figure 54: Temporal Trend in Decane Concentration 55
Figure 55: Relationship between Exposures to Decane by Sampler Site 56
Figure 56: Distribution of Limonene 56
Figure 57: Temporal Trend in Limonene Concentration 57
Figure 58: Relationship between Exposures to Limonene by Sampler Site 57
Figure 59: Distribution of PM25 59
Figure 60: Relationship between Exposures to PM25 by Sampler Site 60
Figure 61: Overall Concentration of Metals in Particulate 61
Figure 62: Concentration of Metals in PM25 61
Figure 63: A G eneral Ordering of Factors Influencing Exposure 64
Figure 64: General Model of Personal Exposure Used to Investigate Direct and Indirect Effects 66
Figure 65: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide 69
Figure 66: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Sulfur Dioxide 72
Figure 67: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Ozone 75
Figure 68: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Benzene 77
Figure 69: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Toluene 79
Figure 70: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Ethylbenzene 81
Figure 71: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to O-Xylene 83
Figure 72: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to M-, P-Xylene 85
Figure 73: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Limonene 87
Figure 74: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Hexane 89
Figure 75: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Methylhexane 91
Figure 76: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Heptane 93
Figure 77: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Octane 95
Figure 78: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Nonane 97
Figure 79: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to Decane 99
Figure 80: Biplot Representation of Semi-Partial R f or Determinant Sets of Chemicals
(Personal Concentrations) 102
Figure 81: Results of Model of Personal Exposure to PM25 Showing Direct and Indirect Effects 103
Figure 82: NES2 Finger Tapping Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 1 12
Figure 83: NES2 Associate Learning Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 1 12
Figure 84: NES2 Switching Attention Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 113
Figure 85: NES2 Mood Scales (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 113
Figure 86: NES2 Continuous Performance Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 1 14
Figure 87: NES2 Hand-Eye Co-ordination Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 1 14
Figure 88: NES2 Simple Reaction Time Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 115
Figure 89: NES2 Symbol-Digit Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 115
Figure 90: NES2 Pattern Comparison Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 1 16
Figure 91: NES2 Pattern Memory Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 116
Figure 92: NES2 Serial Digit Learning Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 1 17
Figure 93: NES2 Colour-Word Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 117
Figure 94: NES2 Vocabulary Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 118
Figure 95: NES2 Delayed Associate Recognition Test (with 95% Confidence Intervals) 118
Final Report
Figure 96: NIS General Measure of Impairment (GMI) 121
Figure 97: NIS Total Items Checked (TIC) 121
Figure 98: NIS Symptom Intensity Measure (SIM) 122
Figure 99: NIS General Scale (GEN) 122
Figure 100: NIS Pathognomic Scale (PAT) 123
Figure 101: NIS Frustration Scale (FRU) 123
Figure 102: NIS Learning-Verbal Scale (L-V) 124
Figure 103: NIS Lie Scale (LIE) 124
Figure 104: Estimated Relative Risk for Prevalence of Selected Respiratory Disorders:
Fort Saskatchewan Compared to Lethbridge, 1995-2001 135
Figure 105: Age-Standardized Mortality Rate of All Causes of Death, Fort Saskatchewan,
1 984-2001 136
Figure 106: Comparison of Age Standardized Mortality Rates of Selected Causes of Death
Between Fort Saskatchewan and Lethbridge, 1984-2001 (with 95% Confidence Interval) 137
Figure 107: Average S02 Levels at Fort Saskatchewan Measured by AENV (January 2000 to
December 2001) Plotted by Wind Speed and Wind Direction 141
Figure 108: Average N02 Levels at Fort Saskatchewan Measured by AENV (January 2000 to
December 2001) Plotted by Wind Speed and Wind Direction 143
Figure 109: Average CL Levels at Fort Saskatchewan Measured by AENV (January 2000 to
December 2001) Plotted by Wind Speed and Wind Direction 144
List of Tables
Table 1 : C omponents of the Study 9
Table 2: Summary of Passive Sampler Detection Limits 13
Table 3: Number of Participants Completing Each Study Component 20
Table 4: Primary Work or Employment Status 23
Table 5: Activity Mix by Gender and Job Status 27
Table 6: Samplers and Chemical Concentrations Measured 28
Table 7: Distribution of Personal Exposure Monitors (PEMs) 29
Table 8: Comparison of N02 Levels in pg/m3 with Guidelines and Other Studies'' 32
Table 9: Comparison of S02 Levels in pg/nr1 with Guidelines and Other Studies 34
Table 10: Comparison of 02 Levels in pg/m3 with Guidelines and Other Studies" 37
le I 1 : C omparison of Benzene Levels in pg/m3 with Guidelines and Other Studies' 43
Table 12: Metals Analyzed from Particulate Samples 58
Table 13: Distribution of Particulate Matter (PM2 5) F ilters 59
J a ble 14: Comparison of PM2 s L evels (pg/m3) with Guidelines and Other Studies” 60
1 a ble 15: Comparative Multiple Regression Coefficients for Variable Sets 67
6: Beta Weights for Hierarchical Set Regression of Personal Exposure Concentrations 68
7: Comparative Multiple Regression Coefficients for Variable Sets 70
B 1 i W e Llits for Hierarchical Set Regression of Personal Exposure Concentrations 71
9: C o mparative Multiple Regression Coefficients for Variable Sets 73
oi Hierarchical Set Regression of Personal Exposure Concentrations 74
rative Multiple Regression Coefficients for Variable Sets 77
i Hierarchical Set Regression of Personal Exposure Concentrations 78
i i pie Regression Coefficients for Variable Sets 79
r H ierarchical Set Regression of Personal Exposure Concentrations 80