Annoyance and Worry in a Petrochemical Industrial Area—Prevalence, Time Trends and Risk Indicators

Gösta Axelsson, Leo Stockfelt, Eva Andersson, Anita Gidlof-Gunnarsson, Gerd Sallsten and Lars Barregard
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Gösta Axelsson: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
Leo Stockfelt: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
Eva Andersson: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
Anita Gidlof-Gunnarsson: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
Gerd Sallsten: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
Lars Barregard: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden

IJERPH, 2013, vol. 10, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: In 1992, 1998, and 2006, questionnaires were sent to stratified samples of residents aged 18–75 years living near petrochemical industries (n = 600–800 people on each occasion) and in a control area (n = 200–1,000). The aims were to estimate the long-term prevalence and change over time of annoyance caused by industrial odour, industrial noise, and worries about possible health effects, and to identify risk indicators. In 2006, 20% were annoyed by industrial odour, 27% by industrial noise (1–4% in the control area), and 40–50% were worried about health effects or industrial accidents (10–20% in the control area). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed significantly lower prevalence of odour annoyance in 1998 and 2006 than in 1992, while industrial noise annoyance increased significantly over time. The prevalence of worry remained constant. Risk of odour annoyance increased with female sex, worry of health effects, annoyance by motor vehicle exhausts and industrial noise. Industrial noise annoyance was associated with traffic noise annoyance and worry of health effects of traffic. Health-risk worry due to industrial air pollution was associated with female sex, having children, annoyance due to dust/soot in the air, and worry of traffic air pollution.

Keywords: petrochemical industry; industrial noise; industrial air pollution; annoyance; worry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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