Media Release

FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: 9/23/04
CONTACT: Robert Vanderslice Ph.D.
(401) 222-3424

HEALTH Releases Results of Alton Area Health Assessment

HEALTH staff conducted a health survey in the Alton area on August 18th, 19th, and 20th, 2004. The survey included 156 individuals from 51 households. The results of the survey are summarized below.

Please note that this type of survey can only show an association between residents’ reports of unusual odors and self-reported symptoms. It cannot verify actual physical symptoms or their association with any specific cause. However it helps to quantify residents’ experience and guide the direction of further inquiry.

Many residents detected bad odors this summer--especially those living closer to the lagoons, but the odors improved substantially by the time the survey was conducted. The type of odors differs widely, as does the time of day when people felt that odors were worse. Self-reported symptoms also vary, but were more likely to be present in those living closer to the lagoons. Overall, self-reported health status improved from last winter (2003) to the time of the study.

These results are consistent with the finding that exposure to unpleasant odors makes people feel sick. Individual tolerances to odors and reported physical symptoms vary widely. Generally, the closer to the source of the smell, the greater is the discomfort.

Steps by DEM and Charbert to reduce the source of the odors coincide with an overall improvement in the self-reported health status of area residents.

Attached is the report sent to residents

Alton Area Health Assessment
Study Results: Summary

Odors:

The study shows that most residents (61%) detected unusual odors this summer. Most described the smell as "fecal or sulfur-like" (51%) or generally unpleasant (31%).

Odors and distance from lagoons:

The sulfur-like odors recently improved. Nearly three-quarters of residents (72%) did not smell anything unusual within the last 7 days prior to the survey. Residents closer (within ½ mile) to the lagoons were more likely to smell something bad (55 %) than those living more than ½ mile away (8 %). Fifty-four percent said that it smelled like oil or burning oil. Thirty-three percent said it was worse in the morning; 30 percent said it was worse at night.

Reported symptoms:

Nearly half of all respondents (45%) had no unusual symptoms within the last 7 days. Those living closer (within ½ mile) to the lagoons had more symptoms (3 symptoms) on average than those living more than ½ mile away (less than 1 symptom). Residents living closer to the lagoons (within ½ mile) were more likely to report headache, nasal congestion and cough, than other residents.

Self-reported Health Status:

Residents rated their health on a scale from 0 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Compared to last winter, residents rated their current overall health better. The answers of people who live within ½ mile of the lagoons show that their health improved from 3.3 to 3.8.

Conclusion:

Many residents detected bad odors this summer--especially those living closest to the lagoons, but the odors improved substantially by the time of the survey. The type of odors differs widely, as does the time of day when people felt that odors were worse. Self-reported symptoms also vary, but were more likely to be present in those living closest to the lagoons. Overall, self-reported health status improved from last winter (2003) to the time of the study.

These results are consistent with the finding that exposure to unpleasant odors makes people feel sick. Individual tolerances to odors and reported physical symptoms vary widely. Generally, the closer to the source of the smell, the greater is the discomfort. Steps taken to reduce the source of the odors coincide with an overall improvement in the self-reported health status of area residents.