Fort Saskatchewan and Area Community Exposure and Health Effects REPO Assessment Program ydlbsrra 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: (780)427-4518 Fax: (780)427-1470 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