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Health Impacts: Health Summary:
At least 45 percent of the population of Essex County is vulnerable to health problems that can be caused or exacerbated by air pollution. Sensitive populations include children under 18, seniors over 65, those with heart and lung conditions, and those with other diseases such as diabetes.
- There is an asthma epidemic in New England that is reflected in the targeted communities. Research shows that air pollution such as smog can trigger or worsen asthma attacks, and there is evidence that ozone and diesel particles may cause asthma.
- Asthma-related hospitalization rates increased in all three target communities between 1990 and 2003--130 percent in Beverly, 60 percent in Marblehead and 47 percent in Salem.
- In Salem alone, asthma-related visits to the emergency room for all age groups were 28 percent higher as compared with age-adjusted rates for the rest of the state; 81 percent higher for preschoolers ages (0 - 4), and 49 percent higher for children age 5 – 9. Asthma-related deaths in Salem were found to be 92 percent higher when compared with age-adjusted rates for the rest of the state.
- Heart disease is also affected by air pollution. Researchers have found a clear association between air pollution and heart-related deaths.
- Salem and Beverly both show increased cardiovascular mortality rates as compared with age-adjusted rates for the state. Salem has an increased pre-mature cardiovascular mortality rate as well, which reflects those people who died prematurely, under the age of 75.
- Studies have shown that as particulate air pollution increases, hospital admissions for stroke increase as well. Each of the three target communities showed increases as compared with the state for either cerebrovascular hospitalizations or deaths.
- Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) are those that are known to be carcinogenic. Essex County residents have exposures caused by air pollution of 840 times greater than the acceptable limit under the Clean Air Act.
- Cancers of most types are elevated in the three target communities. In Salem, rates of bronchus and lung cancer incidence and mortality for were elevated above state rates. In Beverly these rates were elevated for females only. Marblehead did not show an overall elevation in either incidences or deaths due to bronchus and lung cancers, although mortality rates were elevated among females ages 75 – 84.
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