The Development of Long-Term Adverse Health Effects in Oil Spill Cleanup Workers of the Deepwater Horizon Offshore Drilling Rig Disaster

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to assess the long-term adverse health effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Gulf oil spill exposure in workers who participated in its cleanup work.MethodsMedical charts of both the oil spill exposed and unexposed subjects were reviewed. The changes in the white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels, as well as their pulmonary and cardiac functions were evaluated.ResultsMedical records from 88 subjects (oil spill cleanup workers, n = 44 and unexposed, n = 44) were reviewed during initial and 7 years follow up visits after the disaster occurred. Compared with the unexposed subjects, oil spill exposed subjects had significantly reduced platelet counts (×103/µL) at their initial (254.1 ± 46.7 versus 289.7 ± 63.7, P = 0.000) and follow-up (242.9 ± 55.6 versus 278.4 ± 67.6, P = 0.000) visits compared with the unexposed subjects (254.6 ± 51.9 versus 289.7 ± 63.7, P = 0.008). The hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were increased significantly both at their initial and follow-up visits in the oil spill exposed subjects compared to the unexposed subjects. Similarly, the oil spill exposed subjects had significantly increased ALP, AST, and ALT levels at their initial and follow-up visits compared with those of the unexposed subjects. Illness symptoms that were reported during their initial visit still persisted at their 7-year follow-up visit. Notably, at their 7-year follow-up visit, most of the oil spill exposed subjects had also developed chronic rhinosinusitis and reactive airway dysfunction syndrome as new symptoms that were not reported during their initial visit. Additionally, more abnormalities in pulmonary and cardiac functions were also seen in the oil spill exposed subjects.ConclusionThis long-term follow-up study demonstrates that those people involved in the oil spill cleanup operations experiences persistent alterations or worsening of their hematological, hepatic, pulmonary, and cardiac functions. In addition, these subjects experienced prolonged or worsening illness symptoms even 7 years after their exposure to the oil spill.

Long‐Term Immunological Alterations in Bottlenose Dolphin a Decade after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Potential for Multigenerational Effects

“…Oil spills involve health risks for humans participating in cleanup or inhabiting or otherwise using the surrounding affected area (Laffon et al 2016). Respiratory problems have been documented in cleanup workers following the Deepwater Horizon spill (Alexander et al 2018; D'Andrea and Reddy 2018). Other human health impacts were recently reviewed following several major crude oil or heavy fuel oil (bunker C) spill accidents (Aguilera et al 2010; Goldstein et al 2011; Levy and Nassetta 2011; Laffon et al 2016).…”

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

“…Indeed, in the aftermath of the DHOS, various forms of spill exposure have been linked to increased physical health symptoms, including wheezing and shortness of breath, headaches, skin rashes, and burning of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs (D'Andrea and Reddy 2013;Fan et al 2015;Peres et al 2016). Among cleanup workers, illness symptoms-including hematological, hepatic, pulmonary, and cardiac functions-have been worsening over time (D'Andrea and Reddy 2018).…”

Harmful Health Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill Exposure among People Who Participated in the Cleanup Operations

“…Our preliminary studies on the potential health effects of the oil spill exposure from the Horizon drilling rig blasting disaster revealed that human exposure to this oil spill has a potential to disrupt hematological, hepatic and other organ functions [15]. The longterm follow up analysis demonstrated that individuals involved in the oil spill cleanup operations experienced persistent alterations or worsening of their hematological, hepatic, pulmonary and cardiac functions [16]. To further substantiate the findings of these studies, we conducted a larger study to assess the adverse health effects of the Gulf oil spill exposure in workers participating in the clean-up activities.…”