| Summary: | 碩士 === 中國醫藥大學 === 環境醫學研究所碩士班 === 95 === The Central Taichung Science Park (CTSP) was established in 2003 and regular operations are currently underway. While the CTSP can be a source of great economic development, it may also cause a great concern for the environment because of the emission of various pollutants. Adverse respiratory health effects that result from pollution of this nature are most commonly felt by the elderly and schoolchildren. In 2006-2007, a project was undertaken to monitor these health effects. We attempted to establish baseline data on health risk associated pollution from the CTSP. Using the Industrial Source Complex 3 (ISC3) model, we have predicted the emission patterns of various pollutants and have identified hot-spots in the vicinity of the CTSP (which hereafter will be referred to as the “exposure area”). A rural township in Taichung County was selected as a control area. 222 adults and 488 schoolchildren living in the exposure area and 82 adults and 452 schoolchildren residing in the control area were interviewed by means of a questionnaire. In the exposure area, five volunteer households were selected for indoor and outdoor air particle monitoring by QCM cascade impactor and personal environmental monitor (PEM). The levels of heavy metals present in the air particles was measured by ICP-MS.
The results showed that the odds ratios of sputum and wheezing among schoolchildren were 1.46 and 1.42 higher than in the previous year, using logistic regression after adjusting for covariates. For adults, coughing symptoms in the exposure group were also higher than the control group（OR＝2.73, p＜0.05）. In the elderly (those between the ages of 65 and 80), the prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms were higher among those living in the exposure area, especially in the southern area. Among the adults, FVC and FEV1 levels in the northern exposure area were lower than those of the control group. The indoor air PM2.5 and PM10 levels were highly correlated with the local air monitoring station levels (r = 0.41 and 0.52, p < 0.001). The levels of arsenic, lead, and copper were highest in the indoor air particles. Furthermore, the levels of arsenic, selenium, and zinc (which are the elements most commonly found in the manufacture of products at the CTSP) in the indoor air particles were higher than in the previous study. We suspect that these elevated levels are a result of the industrial activities of the CTSP. Therefore, we feel it is necessary to periodically monitor pollutant levels in the vicinity of the CTSP in order to safeguard the health of the residents living in close proximity to the park.
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