Health status of children aged 0–15 years old living near the biomass power plants in Roi Et Province

Abstract

Background: The air pollution from the biomass power plants have emerged over environmental and health effects of people living nearby the plants. These pollutants can cause serious health consequences such as: respiratory irritation, asthma, skin, allergy, and eye irritation. Objectives of the survey were to explore health status and health effects of children age 0–15 years old who lived near the biomass power plants, NueaMueang district, Mueng Roi Et district, Roi Et province.
Methods: A descriptive study was conducted, collecting data from 235 children with age 0–15 years old who lived near the biomass power plants in NueaMueang district, Mueng Roi Et district, Roi Et Province, during May 9–13, 2016. A questionnaire was developed for interview in children and parents by researcher team. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistic such as frequency, percentage, and correlation of variable and binary logistic regression.
Results: The results of this study showed that children have itchy skin everyday (5.6%). Common signs and symptoms in the previous year were fever, running nose and cough (81.71%, 52.57% and 23.43%, respectively). Their average peak flow rate was lower than normal value 17.86%, high blood pressure level are 4.82%. Approximately 60% of children had appropriate growth by age. History of everyday exposure to dust from mill and biomass power plants was 53.65%; and exposed to husk dust was 96.77%. Majority of children exposed during 11.00 pm to 6.00 am. (45.50%). Around half of the children lived far from biomass power plants less than 1 kilometer. There were significant relationship between the distance from children’s house to the plants and the symptoms including nasal congestion, runny nose, epistaxis, sore throat, hoarseness, cough, headache, dizziness, itchy, rash, sore eye, red eye, tearful, and eyestrain (p<0.05).
Conclusion and discussion: Finding from this study suggested that the administrative agency should seriously concern about the areas around biomass power plants. Environmental monitoring and health surveillance system should be created for health impact assessment among children in the risk areas. Knowledge and health situation information are necessary to share for prevention of dust exposure.