Self-Reported Oil Spill Exposure and Pregnancy Complications: The GROWH Study

Abstract

Adverse infant outcomes often rise in the aftermath of disaster, but few studies have assessed the effects of disaster on maternal health. 1091 southern Louisiana women were interviewed about their pregnancy history, including pregnancy complications. Associations between oil spill exposures and gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and nausea/vomiting were assessed for all reported pregnancies. 631 women had a pregnancy both before and after the oil spill. Generalized estimating equations (logistic regression) with adjustment for confounders were used. To assess possible unmeasured confounding, instead of considering oil spill exposure as a time-varying exposure, women were defined as oil spill-exposed or not. If oil spill-exposed women were equally prone to complications in pregnancies that occurred prior to the oil spill as after it, it was considered that any associations were likely due to selection or reporting issues. Women who reported oil spill exposure, particularly loss of use of the coast, were more likely to report gestational diabetes; however, the level of association was similar for pregnancies before and after the spill (p for interaction >0.10 and odds ratios (ORs) for pregnancies prior to the spill > than those after the spill). No associations were found between oil spill exposure and hypertensive disorders. This analysis does not suggest an increased risk of pregnancy complications associated with exposure to the oil spill; however, future studies should assess exposure and outcomes prospectively and clinically instead of relying on self-report.

Oil Spills, Gas Flaring and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review

“…This is in consonance with several studies that have reported that maternal exposure to environmental toxicants poses a major risk to the health of the women as well as having negative impact on fetal health and development [7] [8] [9]. There is a body of evidence relating maternal exposure to oil pollutants with increased risk of miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, birth defects, gestational diabetes mellitus, maternal depression, motor and cognitive delays in children [7] [10] [11] [12]. Thus, this article reviews the adverse outcomes of pregnancy associated with exposure to oil spill and gas flaring and its possible exposure pathways.…”

“…In the same second GROWH study by Harville et al, pregnant women who reported oil spill exposure had increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus [11]. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology…”

“…Self-reported exposure to the Gulf oil spill and hypertensive disorder in a 2017 second GROWH study conducted by Harville et al, on 1091 southern Louisiana women between the ages of 18 -45, showed that 21% of the 631 women who had a pregnancy both before and after the oil spill reported having hypertension as a result of exposure to the oil spill [11]. This finding, however was not found to be significant.…”

Derramamento De Petróleo E Seus Impactos No Ambiente E Na Saúde Humana

“…Aumento do risco de câncer de fígado, rins, pulmões, mama e próstata. Lyons et al, 1999;Janjua et al, 2006;Zock et al, 2007;Peres et al, 2016;Harville et al, 2017; Dor e queimação na garganta e nos pulmões, sibilância, tontura, enjoo e dor de cabeça. Janjua et al, 2006;Zock et al, 2007;Meo et al, 2008;Jung et al, 2013;Kim et al, 2013; Redução das funções pulmonares e associação com efeitos respiratórios, tais como aumento de alergias, asma e falta de ar.…”

“…Indivíduos que vivem muito perto de campos de óleo e/ou trabalharam diretamente com a limpeza de locais onde houve derramamentos possuem maior probabilidade de apresentar irritações na pele, nos olhos e nas membranas mucosas (RAMIREZ et al, 2017). Outros sintomas encontrados foram dores de cabeça, sibilância e queimação na garganta (LYONS et al, 1999;JAN-JUA et al, 2006;ZOCK et al, 2007;PERES et al, 2016;HARVILLE et al, 2017).…”