Health assessment of populations living close to the airport of Bourgas, Bulgaria.

The aim of this follow-up performed in a period of three years (1997-1999) was to assess the morbidity rate among children (0-17 years) and adults (18 years and above) from housing estates Sarafovo, Izgrev, Zornitsa and party Slaveykov, located close to the airport of Bourgas and compare it to population living at more distance from the airport (town centre). It was found that the prevalence of all diseases in children and the incidence in adults were higher in populations living close to the airport than in matching population living in the town centre. Specific groups of diseases which may be considered more closely associated with the adverse health effects of noise included diseases of the nervous system and of the sense organs, mental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, particularly arterial hypertension, and diseases of the digestive system.