Deepwater Horizon oil spill exposure and child health: a longitudinal analysis

Abstract

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS) created widespread concern about threats to health among residents of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. This study uses data from the Resilient Children, Youth, and Communities study-a longitudinal cohort survey of households with children in DHOS-affected areas of South Louisiana-to consider the effect of DHOS exposure on health trajectories of children, an especially vulnerable population subgroup. Results from latent linear growth curve models show that family DHOS exposure via physical contact and job/income loss both negatively influenced initial child health. However, the effects of physical exposure dissipated over time while the effects of job/income loss persisted. This pattern holds for both general child health and the number of recent physical health problems children had experienced. These findings help to bridge the literature on disaster impacts and resilience/vulnerability, with the literature on socioeconomic status as a fundamental cause of health outcomes over the life course. Keywords BP Deepwater Horizon . Child health . Disaster . Oil spill The Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS) ranks as the largest accidental marine oil spill in history by volume 1 and length of shoreline oiled (Nixon et al. 2016). The disaster was set in motion on April 20, 2010, when the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon oil rig

Human Health and Socioeconomic Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

“…Oil and associated chemical components have a wide range of known or putative toxic outcomes, including endocrine disrupting, carcinogenic, cytotoxic, immunotoxic, mutagenic, and genotoxic effects (Solomon and Janssen, 2010;Bhattacharya et al, 2016;Du et al, 2016;Laffon et al, 2016;Doctors for Environment Australia, 2019;Holme et al, 2019). Exposures can occur through physical contact with contaminants in air, water, or on materials; disruptions of routine behaviors; socioeconomic impacts; or other pathways (Hobfoll, 1991;Eisenberg and McKone, 1998;Slack et al, 2020).…”

“…How people adapt to repeated exposure to stress depends on an array of psychological, socio-demographic, economic, social, physical, and other variables (McEwen, 2005;Norris et al, 2008). Inhabitants of the Gulf region are particularly susceptible to oil spill health impacts due to widespread, preexisting health disparities, continuing exposure to contaminants, and location in a disaster-prone region (Lichtveld et al, 2016;Slack et al, 2020). Not surprisingly, the DWH oil spill, like Hurricane Katrina and other disasters, "had its greatest impact among those with the least" (Abramson et al, 2010).…”

The Gulf of Mexico: An Overview

“…Are Linked Disasters occurring in the Gulf impact not only the biota and ecosystems of this large marine ecosystem but also the people that inhabit its shores. This is especially true because the Gulf is situated in a naturally precarious region that is subject to a variety of natural and human-made threats, and the area population exhibits health disparities and suffers continued exposure to environmental contaminants (Lichtveld et al, 2016;Slack et al, 2020). The DWH disaster had extensive adverse physical and mental human health impacts for some responders, cleanup crews, and residents in coastal communities.…”

“…However, adverse psychological effects were common among those exposed to the spill physically or through associated socioeconomic impacts (e.g., job/income loss; Finucane et al, 2020). Natural resourcedependent communities (e.g., fishers) were particularly vulnerable to mental health effects (Cope et al, 2013;Parks et al, 2020;Slack et al, 2020), as were those who suffered socioeconomic disparities. While children are of special concern for negative health effects from spill exposure and exhibited some impacts (Abramson et al, 2010;Slack et al 2020), studies of children's seafood consumption (Sathiakumar et al, 2017) and beach play (Ferguson et al, 2020) showed little if any additional health risks associated with potentially contaminated seafood or exposure to contaminated beach sediments (Sandifer et al, 2021, in this issue).…”

Adverse Physical and Mental Health Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Among Gulf Coast Children: An Environmental Justice Perspective

“…16 A longitudinal extension of this study in southern Louisiana by Slack, et al found that familial physical and economic oil spill exposure negatively influenced initial child health, and the effects of job or income loss persisted. 17 Studies of Louisiana and Mississippi adolescents found significant associations between oil spill-related stress and post-traumatic stress disorder and poor self-reported competence and well-being. 18,19 However, there remains a gap in the literature on DHOS's impact on children throughout the entire Gulf Coast, including Alabama and Florida, as well as how children's post-DHOS health outcomes were shaped by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.…”