Adverse health effects of ferronickel manufacturing factory on local residents: An interrupted time series analysis. 2018

Changwoo Han, and Yun-Chul Hong
Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

The first ferronickel manufacturing factory of the Republic of Korea was opened in Gwangyang City on October, 23rd, 2008. There has been public concern regarding heavy metal dust blown from the factory and slag disposal site. Therefore, we evaluated the health impact of the ferronickel factory on Gwangyang City residents by using interrupted time series analysis. We analyzed the monthly incidence patterns of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and dermatitis in Gwangyang City residents from 2004 to 2014. Data were gathered from the National Health Insurance Service database which covers all the hospital use data of entire city residents. Seasonality adjusted quasi-Poisson regression model was used to evaluate whether the operation of the ferronickel factory was associated with the immediate changes in the monthly disease incidence patterns. We set a control region, Yeosu City, near Gwangyang City to ensure that the changes in the disease incidence were specific to Gwangyang City. We conducted sub-regional level analysis to evaluate whether the disease incidence patterns were affected by the distance from the ferronickel factory. The risk estimates after operation of the ferronickel factory showed an abrupt increase in the monthly incidence of unspecified dermatitis [RR (95% CI), 1.75 (1.17-2.60)] and vasomotor and allergic rhinitis [RR (95% CI), 1.23 (1.08-1.39)] in men, and pruritus [RR (95% CI), 1.95 (1.51-2.52)], unspecified dermatitis [RR (95% CI), 1.65 (1.04-2.60)], and vasomotor and allergic rhinitis [RR (95% CI), 1.17 (1.04-1.31)] in women. These findings were significant even after accounting for the changes of the corresponding disease incidence of the comparison city, Yeosu. The effects were greater in young children (aged 0-9) and sub-regions near the ferronickel factory. Our study suggests possible association between the operation of the ferronickel factory and an abrupt increase of pruritus, unspecific dermatitis, and vasomotor and allergic rhinitis in Gwangyang City residents.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007501 Iron A metallic element with atomic symbol Fe, atomic number 26, and atomic weight 55.85. It is an essential constituent of HEMOGLOBINS; CYTOCHROMES; and IRON-BINDING PROTEINS. It plays a role in cellular redox reactions and in the transport of OXYGEN. Iron-56,Iron 56
D008297 Male Males
D009532 Nickel A trace element with the atomic symbol Ni, atomic number 28, and atomic weight 58.69. It is a cofactor of the enzyme UREASE.
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004391 Dust Earth or other matter in fine, dry particles. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) House Dust,Housedust,Dust, House
D004781 Environmental Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents in the environment or to environmental factors that may include ionizing radiation, pathogenic organisms, or toxic chemicals. Exposure, Environmental,Environmental Exposures,Exposures, Environmental
D005260 Female Females

Related Publications

Changwoo Han, and Yun-Chul Hong
January 2017, Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health,
Changwoo Han, and Yun-Chul Hong
September 1984, Journal of studies on alcohol,
Changwoo Han, and Yun-Chul Hong
September 2016, Journal of epidemiology and community health,
Changwoo Han, and Yun-Chul Hong
March 2023, International journal of rheumatic diseases,
Changwoo Han, and Yun-Chul Hong
July 2021, The International journal of health planning and management,
Changwoo Han, and Yun-Chul Hong
March 2023, Social science & medicine (1982),
Changwoo Han, and Yun-Chul Hong
January 2020, Risk management and healthcare policy,
Changwoo Han, and Yun-Chul Hong
October 2021, International journal of mental health systems,
Changwoo Han, and Yun-Chul Hong
January 2012, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA,
Copied contents to your clipboard!