Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Lung Function among Response and Cleanup Workers of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Year: 2020
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background Inhalation exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is linked to reduced lung function, but no study has examined the relationship among oil spill workers. During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, controlled burning (flaring at the wellhead and in situ burning offshore) was performed to remove oil from the water. Workers near the sites of combustion were potentially exposed to increased levels of PM2.5. We investigated the association between estimated PM2.5 from burning and lung function measured 1-3 years after the DWH disaster. Methods Data came from the GuLF Study, a prospective cohort study of DWH disaster oil spill workers. We examined workers who participated in response and cleanup activities on water and had their lung function measured via spirometry 1-3 years after the spill (N=1,826). Exposure to PM2.5 was estimated using AERMOD to develop 1-hour concentrations. Emissions data were linked to workers’ detailed work histories collected at enrollment. We evaluated forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1; mL), forced vital capacity (FVC; mL), and the ratio (FEV1/FVC; %) in relation to PM2.5 exposure, using multivariable linear regression. Results Compared to the reference group, those with low and high PM2.5 exposure had reduced FEV1 (low vs. no exposure: −64 mL, 95% CI: -128, - 0.2; high vs. no exposure: −128 mL, 95% CI: -276, - 21) and FEV1/FVC (low vs. no exposure: −0.6, 95% CI: -1.4, - 0.1; high vs. no exposure: −1.1, 95% CI: -2.8, - 0.6). The effect on the ratio was stronger among people with pre-existing lung diseases. Conclusions Exposure to PM2.5, over a limited number of days, from burning is associated with reduced lung function among oil spill workers, with possibly stronger effects among people with known lung diseases before the spill.
Source: ISEE Conference Abstracts
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3166787969