Community exposure to hazardous site remediation in rural New Zealand: an exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health effects

Abstract Objective: The New Zealand Ministry of Health responded to community concern about dioxin exposure during on‐site remediation of a pesticide‐contaminated rural area by commissioning this exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health in local residents. Methods: All 200 residents were e...

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Main Authors: David McBride, Kirsten Lovelock, Daniel Shepherd, Kim Dirks, David Welch, Andrew Gray
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2016-10-01
Series:Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12583
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author David McBride
Kirsten Lovelock
Daniel Shepherd
Kim Dirks
David Welch
Andrew Gray
author_facet David McBride
Kirsten Lovelock
Daniel Shepherd
Kim Dirks
David Welch
Andrew Gray
author_sort David McBride
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective: The New Zealand Ministry of Health responded to community concern about dioxin exposure during on‐site remediation of a pesticide‐contaminated rural area by commissioning this exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health in local residents. Methods: All 200 residents were eligible, with age and sex matching to demographically comparable referents. Face‐to‐face interviews included questions on health status, health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) and perceptions about community consultation. Thirty serum samples were obtained, eligibility being based on likelihood of exposure and age. Both HRQOL and serum outcomes were analysed by the appropriate regression methods. Results: Of 200 eligible residents, 139 (69.5%) participated, with 139 matched referents. Mapua residents had lower physical and psychological HRQOL scores, but no difference in health status. 2,3,7,8 TCDD was below the limit of detection in the majority of all serum samples, with some congeners being higher in referents. Perceptions of the communication process were equivocal. Conclusions: Both dioxin levels and measures of health did not differ significantly between the exposed community and controls. Implications for public health: The results suggest neither significant dioxin exposure nor community health effects. Oversight by expert panel with health expertise, allied to sound communication, may have helped the community understand the risks.
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spelling doaj.art-03d980031503489db2e65db99c52ee602023-09-02T03:47:30ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052016-10-0140541241710.1111/1753-6405.12583Community exposure to hazardous site remediation in rural New Zealand: an exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health effectsDavid McBride0Kirsten Lovelock1Daniel Shepherd2Kim Dirks3David Welch4Andrew Gray5Department of Social and Preventive Medicine University of Otago New ZealandDepartment of Social and Preventive Medicine University of Otago New ZealandDepartment of Psychology Auckland University of Technology New ZealandSchool of Population Health University of Auckland New ZealandSchool of Population Health University of Auckland New ZealandDepartment of Social and Preventive Medicine University of Otago New ZealandAbstract Objective: The New Zealand Ministry of Health responded to community concern about dioxin exposure during on‐site remediation of a pesticide‐contaminated rural area by commissioning this exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health in local residents. Methods: All 200 residents were eligible, with age and sex matching to demographically comparable referents. Face‐to‐face interviews included questions on health status, health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) and perceptions about community consultation. Thirty serum samples were obtained, eligibility being based on likelihood of exposure and age. Both HRQOL and serum outcomes were analysed by the appropriate regression methods. Results: Of 200 eligible residents, 139 (69.5%) participated, with 139 matched referents. Mapua residents had lower physical and psychological HRQOL scores, but no difference in health status. 2,3,7,8 TCDD was below the limit of detection in the majority of all serum samples, with some congeners being higher in referents. Perceptions of the communication process were equivocal. Conclusions: Both dioxin levels and measures of health did not differ significantly between the exposed community and controls. Implications for public health: The results suggest neither significant dioxin exposure nor community health effects. Oversight by expert panel with health expertise, allied to sound communication, may have helped the community understand the risks.https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12583dioxinsenvironmental exposurepolychlorinated biphenyls
spellingShingle David McBride
Kirsten Lovelock
Daniel Shepherd
Kim Dirks
David Welch
Andrew Gray
Community exposure to hazardous site remediation in rural New Zealand: an exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health effects
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
dioxins
environmental exposure
polychlorinated biphenyls
title Community exposure to hazardous site remediation in rural New Zealand: an exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health effects
title_full Community exposure to hazardous site remediation in rural New Zealand: an exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health effects
title_fullStr Community exposure to hazardous site remediation in rural New Zealand: an exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health effects
title_full_unstemmed Community exposure to hazardous site remediation in rural New Zealand: an exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health effects
title_short Community exposure to hazardous site remediation in rural New Zealand: an exposed‐referent study of serum dioxins and health effects
title_sort community exposure to hazardous site remediation in rural new zealand an exposed referent study of serum dioxins and health effects
topic dioxins
environmental exposure
polychlorinated biphenyls
url https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12583
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