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Background Exposure to cement dust poses significant risks to respiratory health, particularly among occupational workers. However, the impact of non-occupational cement dust exposure on nearby residents’ pulmonary well-being is often overlooked, particularly in the context of India. This study explores chronic respiratory health symptoms and their predictors in residents exposed to cement dust within a 1 km radius of a cement factory, comparing them with residents residing 5 kms away from the plant. Methods Using a comparative cross-sectional approach, we sampled 542 individuals from both exposed and unexposed communities using a multi-stage sampling technique. In-person interviews were conducted to collect relevant information, and descriptive methods were employed for data analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to identify factors predicting self-reported chronic respiratory symptoms. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to quantify the strength of the relationships. Results The results revealed a notable disparity in respiratory health between the two groups. Approximately 80% of residents within 1 km proximity to the cement industry reported respiratory symptoms, compared to 31% in the more distant community. Exposed residents were significantly more likely to experience respiratory manifestations, with odds ratios ranging from 5.3 kms to 5.4 kms compared to their unexposed counterparts. Conclusions While it was expected that the cement-exposed group would exhibit a higher burden of chronic respiratory symptoms, a surprising finding was that nearly one-third of non-exposed adult residents living in close proximity also reported adverse respiratory symptoms. This highlights the need for informed policies, including regular screening programs for respiratory health among proximate residents, and effective measures to control dust emissions from cement plants. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of addressing respiratory health disparities in both occupational and non-occupational settings related to cement dust exposure.
Janakiraman et al. (Mon,) studied this question.