The Effects of Wearing Protective Devices among Residents and Volunteers Participating in the Cleanup of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill

Lee, Seungmin; Ha, Mina; Kim, Eun-Jung; Jeong, Woo-Chul; Hur, Jongil; Park, Seok Gun; Kwon, Ho-Jang; Hong, Yun–Chul; Ha, Eun–Hee; Lee, Jong Seung; Chung, Bong Chul; Lee, Jeongae; Im, Hosub; Choi, Yeyong; Cho, Yong-Min; Cheong, Hae-Kwan

doi:10.3961/jpmph.2009.42.2.89

Cited by 19 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Significant amounts of urinary phenol was measured among subjects participating in the cleanup of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (D'Andrea and Reddy, 2013), however, phenol is an unspecific biomarker of benzene exposure (Boogaard and van Sittert, 1995). No significant difference was found in metabolite levels of benzene and PAHs between subjects who wore respirators and those who did not during cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill (Lee et al, 2009). However, urine samples were collected two weeks after the spill and not during the initial high exposure period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Information about benzene and PAH exposure levels during oil spills and cleanup operations and following biological uptake is scarce. Urinary measurements are easy to carry out and preferred over blood and exhaled air, however previous measurements during oil spills have been performed with metabolites that are poor markers of exposure to low concentrations (<1 ppm) of benzene (Lee et al, 2009;D'Andrea and Reddy, 2013). Lee et al (2009) also measured metabolites of PAHs, but the urine samples were collected two weeks after the spill and therefore the measurements are not valid.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Urinary measurements are easy to carry out and preferred over blood and exhaled air, however previous measurements during oil spills have been performed with metabolites that are poor markers of exposure to low concentrations (<1 ppm) of benzene (Lee et al, 2009;D'Andrea and Reddy, 2013). Lee et al (2009) also measured metabolites of PAHs, but the urine samples were collected two weeks after the spill and therefore the measurements are not valid. In the most recent review of health effects after exposure to oil spills by Laffon et al (2016) the authors conclude that there is also a lack of information about the effects of personal protective equipment (PPE) in preventing exposure to carcinogenic compounds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Biomonitoring of Benzene and Effect of Wearing Respirators during an Oil Spill Field Trial at Sea

Gjesteland

Hollund

Kirkeleit

et al. 2018

Annals of Work Exposures and Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: The main aim of this study was to assess the biological uptake of benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for subjects exposed to fresh crude oil released at sea. Methods: The study included 22 subjects participating in an «oil on water» field trial in the North Sea. Over two consecutive days there were six releases with two different types of fresh crude oils. Exposed subjects (N=17) were either located in small, open air boats downwind and close to the released oil (<50 m) or on the main deck of two large vessels further from the released oil (100-200 m). Subjects assumed to be unexposed (N=5) were located indoors on the command bridge of either vessel. Full-shift personal benzene exposure was monitored with passive thermal desorption tubes (ATD-tubes) packed with Tenax TA and subsequent gas-chromatographic analysis. Urine samples were collected before and after work-shift on both days and analyzed for urinary markers of benzene (S-Phenyl Mercapturic Acid, SPMA) and PAHs (1-Hydroksypyrene, 1-OH). Information about the use of personal protective equipment, smoking habits, location, work tasks and length of work-shift was recorded by a questionnaire. Results: Subjects located in the small boats downwind and close to the released oil were exposed to relatively high concentrations of benzene (arithmetic mean=0.2 ppm, range 0.002-1.5 ppm) compared to the occupational exposure limits (OELs) for 8 h (1 ppm) and 12 h (0.6 ppm). Although respirators were available to all exposed subjects, SPMA was detected in post-shift urine (0.5-3.3 µmol/mol) of five exposed subjects reporting not wearing respirators, all located in the small boats downwind and close to the released oil. For exposed subjects wearing respirators (N=12) the post-shift urinary SPMA was below the detection limit (0.8 µmol/mol) even when the benzene exposure exceeded the OELs. Urinary levels of PAH were within the reference range of what is considered as background levels (<0.4 µmol/mol). Conclusions: During the initial stages of a bulk oil spill at sea, when the evaporation of benzene is at its highest, it is important to use appropriate respirators to prevent biological uptake of benzene.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Biomonitoring of Benzene and Effect of Wearing Respirators during an Oil Spill Field Trial at Sea

Gjesteland

Hollund

Kirkeleit

et al. 2018

Annals of Work Exposures and Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…By July 2008, the number of people participating in the clean-up activity reached more than 2 million person-days [2], the majority of which were volunteers. However, local residents, military personnel, national maritime police, and professional workers were most heavily involved in the clean-up, which lasted for several months after the accident.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Exposure and Subjective Symptoms in Residents Participating in Clean-Up Activities

Cheong

Lee

et al. 2011

Environ Health Toxicol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to examine the relationship between crude oil exposure and physical symptoms among residents participating in clean-up work associated with the Hebei Spirit oil spill, 2007 in Korea.MethodsA total of 288 residents responded to a questionnaire regarding subjective physical symptoms, sociodemographic characteristics and clean-up activities that occurred between two and eight weeks after the accident. Additionally, the urine of 154 of the respondents was analyzed for metabolites of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. To compare the urinary levels of exposure biomarkers, the urine of 39 inland residents who were not directly exposed to the oil spill were analyzed.ResultsResidents exposed to oil remnants through clean-up work showed associations between physical symptoms and the exposure levels defined in various ways, including days of work, degree of skin contamination, and levels of some urinary exposure biomarkers of VOCs, metabolites and metals, although no major abnormalities in urinary exposure biomarkers were observed.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence of a relationship between crude oil exposure and acute human health effects and suggests the need for follow-up to evaluate the exposure status and long-term health effects of clean-up participants.

show abstract

“…We collected their urine samples before and after cleanup works. Although they wore protective clothing, gloves, boots and fi lter masks, they complained of nose irritation, fatigue and fever sensation by questionnaire survey, and showed symptoms of nausea and vomiting (Lee et al, 2009). The study design is being prepared for publication separately.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urinary metabolic profiling of volatile organic compounds in acute exposed volunteers after an oil spill in Republic of Korea

Lee

Kim

et al. 2009

Biomedical Chromatography

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Herbei Spirit oil spill occurred in western Korea. A large number of people who participated in the cleanup tasks of the contaminated area were exposed to crude oil component. We developed a method to monitor volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolites in urine, and evaluate the acute exposure caused by the oil spill in exposed volunteer workers (n = 100, 20.7 +/- 2.1 years, mean +/- SD). Acidified urine samples were extracted by SPE, derivatized with trimethylsilyl, and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Calibration curves were found to be linear from 3 to 1000 ng/mL (r(2) > 0.993). Accuracy was over 82.4%, and precision was less than 24.8%. Using this method, the VOC metabolites, except hippuric acid, were present at higher levels in the urine samples of volunteers after cleanup work. The levels of mandelic acid (MA) and trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MU) were increased significantly (p < 0.001). The exposure effect was greater in women than in men. The effect of smoking was analyzed in all exposed and non-exposed groups, with non-smokers showing increased MA and t,t-MU levels related to exposure. The present method was reliable to determine VOC metabolites in urine and could be useful for biomonitoring of acute exposure effects of VOCs.

show abstract

The Effects of Wearing Protective Devices among Residents and Volunteers Participating in the Cleanup of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill

Abstract: Because the survey was not performed during the initial high-exposure period, no significant difference was found in metabolite levels between people who wore protective devices and those who did not, except for mercury, whose biological half-life is more than 6 weeks.

Cited by 19 publications

References 3 publications

Biomonitoring of Benzene and Effect of Wearing Respirators during an Oil Spill Field Trial at Sea

Biomonitoring of Benzene and Effect of Wearing Respirators during an Oil Spill Field Trial at Sea

Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Exposure and Subjective Symptoms in Residents Participating in Clean-Up Activities

Urinary metabolic profiling of volatile organic compounds in acute exposed volunteers after an oil spill in Republic of Korea

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About