Skip directly to: content | left navigation | search
  1. ATSDR ›
  2. NER ›
  3. TCE ›
  4. National Exposure Registries Trichloroethylene (TCE) Subregistry Followup 1

National Exposure Registries Trichloroethylene (TCE) Subregistry Followup 1 Registrant Report

    The goal of the TCE Subregistry is to collect and provide information that will guide ATSDR in exploring any possible links between exposure to TCE and health problems. Information from the first (Baseline) interview with subregistry members (registrants) was reported to you in the spring of 1993. This report presents the results of the first followup (Followup 1) interview, which was conducted in 1991, one year after the Baseline interview. It is a summary of the TCE Followup 1 Technical Report, which gives the details about the survey methods and results from the Followup 1 interview with registrants. The full report is available at locations listed in the cover letter.

    Who are the registrants?

    At the time of Followup 1, the subregistry consisted of 3471 living and 263 deceased registrants. The following is a list of locations and the number of addresses in each state that are included in the TCE subregistry Followup 1 report.

    Michigan  101 addresses

    Indiana     279 addresses

    Illinois      427 addresses

    One hundred and fifty one registrants from sites in Pennsylvania and Arizona have since been added. These sites are not included in the first followup analysis, however, they will be included in future reports.

    The characteristics of the 3,471 living registrants were:

    53% were females
    average age was 35.5 years
    23% were under 18 years of age
    48% graduated from high school
    54% were employed full- or part-time
    47% were current or ex-smokers

    What were the results of the First Follow up survey?

    Like the Baseline report, the health conditions that TCE registrants reported in the first followup interview were compared with the health conditions reported in a nationwide survey of the general population. The results discussed in this report are limited to registrants reporting their race as white because of the small number of people in other racial groups.

    In the first followup interview, registrants continued to report higher rates for some health conditions when compared with the national survey. Table 1 shows the health conditions, by sex and age groups, for which there were higher rates reported. Table 1 also lists the number of cases that would have been expected using the national survey rates.

    TCE registrants reported higher rates than the general population for the following conditions. The age groupings refer to the ages at the time of the Followup 1 interview.

    Skin Rashes: Higher rates of "skin rashes, eczema, or skin allergies" were reported for males ages 11–18, and females in age groups 1–10 and 19–25.

    Anemia and Blood Disorders: Higher rates were reported for males greater than 65 years of age, and females ages 19–25 and 56–65 years of age.

    Diabetes: Higher rates were reported for females 19–25 and 45–65 years of age.

    Urinary Tract Disorders: Higher rates were reported among males from 11–18 and 26–35 years of age, and all females.

    Liver Conditions: Higher rates were reported among males 26–35 and females 46–55 years of age.

    Respiratory Allergies: Higher rates were reported by males 1–10 years of age.

    Higher rates of cancer were not reported among registrants. However, the rates of all health outcomes, including cancer, can change with time, thus, the comparisons with the national rates may also change.

    These increased rates were consistent with those of the Baseline Report with some exceptions: reports of liver problems and respiratory allergies were not increased in the baseline report, however, they were increased in the first followup; speech and hearing impairments, stroke, and kidney disease were no longer reported more often than the general population.

    Does TCE in household water affect health?

    Registrants reported several health problems more frequently compared with a national survey of the general U.S. population. The registry data can not, however, be used to determine if TCE 'causes' health problems. These increased rates may be related to TCE exposure. However, other factors might have contributed to these health problems. For example, exposure to chemicals at work and lifestyle factors such as smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol can affect health. Health conditions can be due to other illnesses. For example, a hearing loss can be related to ear infections.

    As was the case at Baseline, there were also some technical issues that must be considered when interpreting the TCE subregistry data. The wording for some of the TCE subregistry questions did not exactly match the wording of the national survey questions. This might have caused the rates to differ. It is possible that people who know that they have been exposed might be more aware of their health and seek medical services more often than the general public. ATSDR is getting information that will help address these technical points.

    Also, to better understand the health conditions seen in this follow up report, ATSDR needs more detailed health information. ATSDR might contact the people who reported certain health conditions to determine the exact type of health condition reported and what other factors, if any, might be related to those conditions. The increase in reporting of hearing loss and speech impairment in children is currently being investigated. As new information is collected from future surveys, the results will be shared with registrants.

    What happens now?

    This fall, registrants will be contacted to update subregistry files. Interviews will continue to take place every 2 years. The same questions will be included in the interviews, but there may be some new questions based on the results of the baseline and followup studies. The reproductive questions have been expanded to address concerns about possible adverse birth outcome effects. The results of future updates will be shared with registrants.

    The letter that is enclosed with this report describes where the full TCE Followup 1 Technical Report can be obtained.

    What should the registrants do?

    If registrants have any concerns about their health, they should consult their personal doctors or other health care providers.

    For information on this report or the TCE Followup 1 Technical Report, please contact Dr. Je Anne Burg at (404) 639–6202.

    Table 1.–Number of Observed versus Expected Health Conditions

    HEALTH
    CONDITION :

    SEX

    AGE
    (years) at
    time of
    Followup
    1
    Interview

    TOTAL
    NUMBER
    OF
    REGISTRY
    MEMBERS

    NUMBER OF
    REGISTRY
    MEMBERS WHO
    ANSWERED "YES"
    FOR HEALTH
    CONDITION
    (OBSERVED)

    NUMBER EXPECTED
    BASED ON NATIONAL
    NORMS

    Skin Rashes

    Male

    11–18

    224

    17

    7.6

    Female

    1–10
    19–25

    153
    201

    23
    24

    7.1
    11.1

    Liver
    conditions

    Male

    26–35

    348

    5

    0.8

    Female

    46–55

    180

    4

    0.6

    Respiratory
    allergies

    Male

    1–10

    161

    16

    6.6

    Diabetes

    Female

    19–25
    46–55
    56–65

    201
    180
    157

    6
    17
    19

    1.2
    6.8
    8.5

    Urinary
    Disorder

    Male

    11–18
    26–35

    224
    348

    4
    13

    0.6
    1.8

    Female

    1–10
    11–18
    19–25
    26–35
    36–45
    46–55
    56–65
    >65

    153
    243
    201
    396
    307
    180
    157
    193

    12
    14
    37
    36
    38
    22
    16
    19

    0.7
    1.4
    1.6
    2.7
    2
    2.7
    3.1
    7.2

    Anemia

    Male

    >65

    135

    5

    1

    Female

    19–25
    56–65

    201
    157

    21
    10

    4.6
    2.6
top