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An exploratory evaluation of the potential pulmonary, neurological and other health effects of chronic exposure to emissions from municipal solid waste fires at a large dumpsite in Olusosun, Lagos, Nigeria

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Abstract

Open municipal solid waste (MSW) combustion is a major emission source of particulate air pollution, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and more exotic hazardous organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated flame retardants. However, the adverse impact of MSW combustion emission on health among the general population is unknown. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the associations between potential exposure to MSW combustion-related air pollution and symptoms of adverse health effects among residents of a community adjacent to a large open landfill in Lagos, Nigeria. Using ordinal logistic regression and controlling for age, sex, and smoking, it was observed that residence for ≥ 11 years had increased odds (p < 0.05) of daily occurrence of tingling/numbness/whiteness of fingers (2.614), headaches (2.725), memory problems (2.869), tremor/cramps (2.748), and confusion (3.033) among other symptoms. These results indicate adverse health impacts of chronic exposure to MSW combustion emission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health,, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Olorunfemi Adetona, James Odei & Maria Lucas

  2. Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health,, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Olorunfemi Adetona, James Odei & Maria Lucas

  3. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine,, University of Lagos, Lagos,, Nigeria

    Obianuju B. Ozoh

  4. Department of Chemistry,, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

    Temilola Oluseyi & Queen Uzoegwu

Authors
  1. Olorunfemi Adetona
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  2. Obianuju B. Ozoh
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  3. Temilola Oluseyi
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  4. Queen Uzoegwu
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  5. James Odei
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  6. Maria Lucas
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Temilola Oluseyi; Methodology: Queen Uzoegwu, Temilola Oluseyi; Formal data analysis and investigation: James Odei, Obianuju Ozoh, Olorunfemi Adetona; Manuscript writing: Maria Lucas, Obianuju Ozoh, Olorunfemi Adetona; Manuscript review: James Odei, Maria Lucas, Obianuju Ozoh, Olorunfemi Adetona, Temilola Oluseyi

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Correspondence to Obianuju B. Ozoh.

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Adetona, O., Ozoh, O.B., Oluseyi, T. et al. An exploratory evaluation of the potential pulmonary, neurological and other health effects of chronic exposure to emissions from municipal solid waste fires at a large dumpsite in Olusosun, Lagos, Nigeria. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 30885–30892 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09701-4

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