Letter to the editor: comments on “The health effects of living near cement kilns;a symptom survey in Midlothian,Texas”

Abstract

In an article published in Toxicology and Industrial Health, Volume 14, Number 6, pp. 829-842, Legator et al. present results of a symptom survey they conducted in the city of Midlothian, Texas. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) offers a commentary regarding the use of a symptom survey to evaluate the health status of the residents of Midlothian, and concerns regarding the limitations of the survey. The TNRCC was provided a unique opportunity to review the data collected during the survey and to participate in the oral deposition of Dr. Marvin Legator, the principal investigator, who discussed the results during a deposition related to an administrative hearing regarding permitting one of the three operating cement companies in Midlothian. The TNRCC is able to offer a perspective of this symptom survey that may not be apparent to the casual reader or peer reviewer. There are numerous issues that the TNRCC has identified in their review of the authors' symptom survey; however, we limit our commentary to issues that are the most salient.

Keywords

cement industry emissions community health study environmental epidemiology hazardous waste incineration health effects symptom survey

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References

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