Hebei Spirit oil spill and its long-term effect on children's asthma symptoms. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Noh, Su Ryeon; Kim, Jung-Ah; Cheong, Hae-Kwan; Ha, Mina; Jee, Young-Koo; Park, Myung-Sook; Choi, Kyung-Hwa; Kim, Ho; Cho, Sung-Il; Choi, Kyungho; Paek, Domyung
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 248(2019)
• Page Start: 286
• Page End: 294
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: BTEX -- Cohort -- Environmental disaster -- Health -- Longitudinal -- Respiratory; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.02.034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: On December 7th, 2007, an estimated 12, 547 kL of crude oil was spilled from the collision of Hebei Spirit near residential area. Our previous study demonstrated worsening of children's asthma symptoms one year after the accident. This study investigated long-term effect of the oil spill on children's asthma symptoms up to five years after the accident. All elementary and middle school students in the exposure area were surveyed on one year (n = 655), three years (664), and five years (611) after the accident. Oil spill exposure was estimated using two estimates including distance from the oil spill (A) and modeled estimates of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) compounds (B), and each was dichotomously categorized (A: high-exposure vs low-exposure; B: ≥20 mg/m 3 vs < 20 mg/m 3 ). Asthma symptoms were evaluated using a standard questionnaire. Oil spill exposure estimates were associated with asthma symptoms on one year (odds ratio (95% confidence interval) A: 1.9 (1.1–3.1); B: 1.6 (0.9–2.7)), three years (A: 1.9 (1.1–3.2); B: 1.3 (0.8–2.2)), and five years (A: 1.2 (0.7–1.9); B: 1.8 (1.1–2.8)) after the oil spill. Significant longitudinal relationship between oil spill exposure estimates and asthma symptoms was also observed (A: 1.6 (1.2–2.2); B: 1.6 (1.1–2.1)). Overall, the effect of oil spill exposure estimates was more severe on younger children. Oil spill exposure estimates were associated with asthma symptoms in children up to five years after the oil spill. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Oil spill affect children's asthma symptoms. Oil spill exposure estimates were associated with asthma symptoms on one year, three years, and five years after the oil spill. Significant longitudinal relationship between oil spill exposure estimates and asthma symptoms was also observed during the five years. Long-term effect of the oil spill was more severe on younger children. Abstract : Oil spill exposure estimates were associated with asthma symptoms up to five years after the oil spill, and that this association was stronger in younger children than in older children.