Development of a total hydrocarbon ordinal job-exposure matrix for workers responding to the Deepwater Horizon disaster: The GuLF STUDY

Stewart, Patricia A.; Stenzel, Mark; Ramachandran, Gurumurthy; Banerjee, Sudipto; Huynh, Tran; Groth, Caroline P; Kwok, Richard K.; Blair, Aaron; Engel, Lawrence S.; Sandler, Dale P.

doi:10.1038/jes.2017.16

Cited by 31 publications

(42 citation statements)

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“…28 From this JEM, various jobs/tasks were assigned TH levels that could vary by time and location. Based on their questionnaire responses, worker exposures to TH could then be determined as a proxy for all petroleum based products encountered.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on their questionnaire responses, worker exposures to TH could then be determined as a proxy for all petroleum based products encountered. 28 The present analysis used the maximum TH level for each worker, across all tasks and time periods. 28 Additionally, industrial hygienists classified participants into 6 OSRC job groups and also by likely exposure to burning oil.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…28 The present analysis used the maximum TH level for each worker, across all tasks and time periods. 28 Additionally, industrial hygienists classified participants into 6 OSRC job groups and also by likely exposure to burning oil. 28 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…28 Additionally, industrial hygienists classified participants into 6 OSRC job groups and also by likely exposure to burning oil. 28 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental health indicators associated with oil spill response and clean-up: cross-sectional analysis of the GuLF STUDY cohort

Kwok

McGrath

Lowe

et al. 2017

The Lancet Public Health

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Summary Background Adverse mental health effects were reported following oil spills but few studies identified specific responsible attributes of the clean-up experience. Methods We evaluated the impact of multiple oil spill response and clean-up (OSRC) exposures following the Deepwater Horizon disaster on the mental health using data from the GuLF STUDY which includes 8,968 workers and 2,225 non-workers who completed an exam with depression and post-traumatic stress (PTS) screeners. Findings OSRC work was associated with increased prevalence of depression, PRDepression=1·22 (1·08, 1·37) and PTS, PRPTS =1·35 (1·07, 1·71). Among workers, those who reported smelling oil, dispersants or cleaning chemicals had an elevated prevalence of depression, PRDepression=1·58 (1·38, 1·81) and PTS, PRPTS=2·29 (1·71, 3·07). Other factors associated with depression and PTS included stopping work because of the heat (PRDepression=1·36 [1·22, 1·52] and PRPTS =1·41 [1·14, 1·74]) and working as a commercial fisherman prior to the spill (PRDepression=1·36 [1·19, 1·56]; PRPTS =1·86 [1·46, 2·38]). Increasing exposure to total hydrocarbons (TH) appeared associated with depression and PTS but after taking into account work experiences, only the association between the highest TH level and PTS remained, PRPTS=1·75 (1·11, 2·76). Interpretation Workers with high levels of TH exposure or potentially stressful work experiences had increased prevalence of depression and PTS.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…28 Additionally, industrial hygienists classified participants into 6 OSRC job groups and also by likely exposure to burning oil. 28 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Mental health indicators associated with oil spill response and clean-up: cross-sectional analysis of the GuLF STUDY cohort

Kwok

McGrath

Lowe

et al. 2017

The Lancet Public Health

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“…BP contractors collected a large number of measurements on the personal airborne exposure of oil spill response/clean-up workers and scientists to total hydrocarbons. Results from a subset of the dosimeter badges indicated that workers in Louisiana were exposed to average total hydrocarbon levels 2 to 4 times higher than similar workers in Florida over the period of 20 April through 10 August, and substantially more than background levels prior to the spill (Stewart et al 2017). This analysis was limited to the subset of individuals working on small vessels working near the shoreline that were not involved in decontamination activities, because these most closely mimicked potential dolphin exposure.…”

Section: Inhalationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill marine mammal injury assessment

Takeshita¹,

Sullivan²,

Smith³

et al. 2017

Endang. Species. Res.

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Association of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response and Cleanup Work With Risk of Developing Hypertension

et al. 2022

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IMPORTANCEExposure to hydrocarbons, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), and other chemicals from the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon disaster may be associated with increased blood pressure and newly detected hypertension among oil spill response and cleanup workers. OBJECTIVE To determine whether participation in cleanup activities following the disaster was associated with increased risk of developing hypertension. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study was conducted via telephone interviews and in-person home exams. Participants were 6846 adults who had worked on the oil spill cleanup (workers) and 1505 others who had completed required safety training but did not do cleanup work (nonworkers). Eligible participants did not have diagnosed hypertension at the time of the oil spill. Statistical analyses were performed from June 2018 to December 2021. EXPOSURES Engagement in cleanup activities following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster, job classes, quintiles of cumulative total hydrocarbons exposure level, potential exposure to burning or flaring oil, and estimated PM 2.5 were examined.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements were collected during home exams from 2011 to 2013 using automated oscillometric monitors. Newly detected hypertension was defined as antihypertensive medication use or elevated blood pressure since the spill. Log binomial regression was used to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% CIs for associations between cleanup exposures and hypertension. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate exposure effects on continuous blood pressure levels. RESULTSOf 8351 participants included in this study, 6484 (77.6%) were male, 517 (6.2%) were Hispanic, 2859 (34.2%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 4418 (52.9%) were non-Hispanic White; the mean (SD) age was 41.9 (12.5) years at enrollment. Among workers, the prevalence of newly detected hypertension was elevated in all quintiles (Q) of cumulative total hydrocarbons above the first quintile (PR for Q3, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.13-1.46], PR for Q4, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.10-1.43], and PR for Q5, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.15-1.50]). Both exposure to burning and/or flaring oil and gas (PR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.02-1.33]) and PM 2.5 from burning (PR, 1.26 [95% CI, 0.89-1.71]) for the highest exposure category were associated with increased risk of newly detected hypertension, as were several types of oil spill work including cleanup on water (PR, 1.34 [95% CI,) and response work (PR, 1.51 [95% CI,). (continued) Key Points Question Is working on oil spill cleanup associated with hypertension risk? Findings This cohort study found that participation in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup was associated with increased risk of subsequent hypertension diagnosis compared with performing support work. Hypertension was also associated with higher cumulative exposure to total hydrocarbons. Meaning These findings suggest that oil spill response and cleanup work associated with the Deepwater Horizon disaster may have long-term he...

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Development of a total hydrocarbon ordinal job-exposure matrix for workers responding to the Deepwater Horizon disaster: The GuLF STUDY

Cited by 31 publications

References 10 publications

Mental health indicators associated with oil spill response and clean-up: cross-sectional analysis of the GuLF STUDY cohort

Mental health indicators associated with oil spill response and clean-up: cross-sectional analysis of the GuLF STUDY cohort

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill marine mammal injury assessment

Association of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response and Cleanup Work With Risk of Developing Hypertension

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