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Runcorn has been a site of chemical industry activity for over a century, where tons of toxic chemicals are released annually to air and water. Excess kidney disease mortality (nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis) was found in the population living within 2 km of the industrial plants (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) in males 131 (95% CI 90 to 185) and females 161 (95% CI 118 to 214)) compared to a reference population (northwest England)). Risk of hospital admissions for kidney disease in Halton (comprising the towns of Runcorn and Widnes) was higher than in the less industrial, nearby town of Warrington. The standardised admission ratio (SAR) in Halton was 115 (95% CI 107 to 124) for males and 126 (95% CI 117 to 137) for females; and in Warrington 91 (95% CI 85 to 97) for males and 84 (95% CI 78 to 91) for females compared to the Warrington and Halton area as a whole. The excess risk of kidney disease in the Runcorn area requires further investigation.

Original publication

DOI

10.1136/oem.2003.010629

Type

Journal article

Journal

Occupational and environmental medicine

Publication Date

08/2004

Volume

61

Pages

717 - 719

Addresses

Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU), Imperial College London, UK.

Keywords

Humans, Kidney Diseases, Hazardous Substances, Population Surveillance, Morbidity, Risk Factors, Environmental Exposure, Chemical Industry, England, Female, Male