Persistent respiratory effects in survivors of the Bhopal disaster

TitlePersistent respiratory effects in survivors of the Bhopal disaster
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1998
Authors
JournalThorax
Volume53
IssueSupplementary 2
PaginationS43-6
Abstract

Objective. To examine the role of exposure to the 1984 Bhopal gas leak in the development of persistent
obstructive airways disease. Design. Cross sectional survey. Setting. Bhopal, India. Subjects. Random
sample of 454 adults stratified by distance of residence from the Union Carbide plant. Main outcome
measures. Self reported respiratory symptoms; indices of lung function measured by simple spirometry
and adjusted for age, sex, and height according to Indian derived regression equations. Results.
Respiratory symptoms were significantly more common and lung function (percentage predicted forced
expiratory volume in one second (FEV1
), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow between
25% and 75% of vital capacity (FEF25–75), and FEV1
/FEV ratio) was reduced among those reporting
exposure to the gas leak. The frequency of symptoms fell as exposure decreased (as estimated by
distance lived from the plant), and lung function measurements displayed similar trends. These findings
were not wholly accounted for by confounding by smoking or literacy, a measure of socioeconomic
status. Lung function measurements were consistently lower in those reporting symptoms. Conclusion.
Our results suggest that persistent small airways obstruction among survivors of the 1984 disaster may
be attributed to gas exposure

URLhttp://thorax.bmj.com/content/53/suppl_2/S43.abstract
DOI