Acute health effects of the Sea Empress oil spill

Abstract

Study objective-To investigate whether residents in the vicinity of the Sea Empress tanker spill suVered an increase in self reported physical and psychological symptoms, which might be attributable to exposure to crude oil. Design-Retrospective cohort study; postal questionnaire including demographic details, a symptom checklist, beliefs about health eVects of oil and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression and SF-36 mental health scales. Setting-Populations living in four coastal towns on the exposed south Pembrokeshire coast and two control towns on the unexposed north coast. Patients-539 exposed and 550 unexposed people sampled at random from the family health services authority age-sex register who completed questionnaires. Main results-Adjusted odds ratios for self reported physical symptoms; scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression and SF-36 mental health scales, in 1089 people who responded out of a possible 1585 (69%). Conclusions-Living in areas exposed to the crude oil spillage was significantly associated with higher anxiety and depression scores, worse mental health; and self reported headache (odds ratio = 2.35, 95% CI 1.56, 3.55), sore eyes (odds ratio = 1.96, 95% CI 1.06, 3.62), and sore throat (odds ratio = 1.70, 95% CI 1.12, 2.60) after adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, anxiety, and the belief that oil had affected health. People living in exposed areas reported higher rates of physical and psychological symptoms than control areas. Symptoms significantly associated with exposure after adjustment for anxiety and health beliefs were those expected from the known toxicological eVect of oil, suggesting a direct health eVect on the exposed population.

Effect of duration of exposure to polluted air environment on lung function in subjects exposed to crude oil spill into sea water

“…The solubility and concentration of the aromatic hydrocarbons was higher in blood and low in brain, liver and kidney, with a tendency to accumulate in adipose tissues [10]. Crude oil spillage in the sea is considered to pose major health hazards, with symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, asthmatic attacks, redness of eyes, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness, back and leg pain [2,11,12]. Reports on the effects of duration of exposure to crude oil spill on lung function are not available.…”

“…During the transportation of crude oil, some major oil spill accidents have been recorded [1][2][3][4][5]. A Greek oil tanker, the Tasman Spirit, carrying approximately 67 535 tons of crude oil ran aground in compliance with regulation of our institution and generally accepted guidelines governing such work.…”

Longer-Term Mental and Behavioral Health Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill

“…Those most vulnerable were groups with significant exposure and dependence on fishing and oil work for subsistence [3]. In an earlier study of the Sea Empress Oil Spill in Wales [4], the social and economic consequences following the spill resulted in increased concerns about health, finances, and perceived environmental risk; all of these factors resulted in increases in mental health symptoms [5]. Greater exposure resulting in increased behavioral health symptoms was also evident in the research done after the 2002 Prestige Oil Spill in Spain [6,7].…”

Health complaints among subjects involved in oil cleanup operations during oil spillage from a Greek tanker "Tasman Spirit"

“…A number of oil spill incidents have been recorded during the transportation of crude oil [1][2][3][4][5]. A famous example is the spillage from a Greek oil tanker, the "Tasman Spirit",…”