Respiratory Effects of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill on Children in Taean, Korea

Abstract

PurposeThe oil spill from the Heibei Spirit in December 2007 contaminated the Yellow Coast of South Korea. We evaluated the respiratory effects of that spill on children who lived along the Yellow Coast.MethodsOf 662 children living in the area exposed to the oil spill, 436 (65.9%) were enrolled as subjects. All subjects completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. A health examination, including a skin prick test, pulmonary function test, and methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT), was administered. The children were assigned to two groups: those who lived close to the oil spill area and those who lived far from the oil spill area.ResultsThe children who lived close to the oil spill area showed a significantly lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), an increased prevalence of 'asthma ever' (based on a questionnaire), and 'airway hyperresponsiveness' (based on the MBPT) than those who lived far from the oil spill area (FEV1; P=0.011, prevalence of 'asthma ever' based on a questionnaire; P=0.005, prevalence of 'airway hyperresponsiveness' based on the MBPT; P=0.001). The onset of wheezing after the oil spill was significantly higher in children who lived close to the oil spill area than in those who lived far from the oil spill area among the 'wheeze ever' group (P=0.002). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, male sex, family history of asthma, and residence near the oil spill area were significant risk factors for asthma (sex [male/female]: odds ratio [OR], 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-4.91; family history of asthma [No/Yes]: OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.83-7.75; exposure group [low/high]; OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.27-4.65).ConclusionsThis study suggests that exposure to an oil spill is a risk factor for asthma in children.

Slow recovery of Barataria Bay dolphin health following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2013-2014), with evidence of persistent lung disease and impaired stress response

“…Pulmonary damage and subsequent respiratory compromise would not be unusual for mammals several years following exposure to an oil spill. In fact, acute and chronic respiratory symptoms were reported in humans following inhalation exposure from multiple spills, including the Prestige, Hebei Spirit, Tasman Spirit, and DWH oil spills (Suárez et al 2005, Carrasco et al 2006, Janjua et al 2006, Zock et al 2007, 2012, Sim et al 2010, Jung et al 2013, Sandler et al 2014.…”

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“…4,18 Epidemiological studies on respiratory health effects of previous crude oil spills have demonstrated increased prevalence of asthma in residents and children living near the spill area suggesting that exposure to crude oil spill is a risk factor for asthma. 19 …”

Long-Term Respiratory and Genotoxic Effects in The Prestige Oil Spill

“…Jung et al 25 evaluated the effects of the exposure to oil in children. These investigators conducted a cross-sectional study in 2013, 1.5 years after the Hebei Spirit accident (South Korea), to analyse the respiratory effects in 436 children who lived along the Yellow Coast.…”