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Hebei Spirit oil spill exposure and acute neuropsychiatric effects on residents participating in clean-up work.
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Jin Hee Eum, Hae Kwan Cheong, Mina Ha, Ho Jang Kwon, Eun Hee Ha, Yun Chul Hong, Ye Yong Choi, Woo Chul Jeong, Jong Il Hur, Seungmin Lee, Eun Jung Kim, Eun Hee Lee, So Young Lee Ahn, Jong Hun Kim
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Korean J Epidemiol. 2008;30(2):239-251. Published online December 31, 2008
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/kje.2008.30.2.239
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Hebei Spirit oil spill accident has brought about the worst coastal oil contamination in Korean history.
Following the accident, residents and volunteers, number exceeding a million from nationwide, were exposed to chemicals from the crude oil itself and dispersants, including volatility organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals through the clean-up works over months. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of clean-up work on the peripheral nerve function and psychologic status of the residents after a prolonged exposure to clean-up work after the oil spill exposure.
METHODS We performed a study on the residents of Jango-do Island, Chungnam, on 5 and 12 January 2008, six to eight weeks after the accident. A questionnaire on general characteristics, Korean Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), color vision test (Lanthony desaturated D-15 test), and vibration perception threshold test were done. Among 210 residents with 30 years or older, 63 (30%) finished questionnaires and completed at least one among K-BDI, color vision test, or vibration perception threshold test.
Descriptive statistics was done on the residents.
RESULTS The residents participated in clean-up work for average 20 days, max 30 days, during 6 weeks following the accident. Average work hours were 7.4 hours per day, max 10 hours. On K-BDI, 21 (33.3%) had a severe depressive state.
Mean color confusion index was 1.29 in the right and 1.20 in the left. Mean vibration perception threshold was 3.69 VU (right) and 3.55 VU (left), respectively.
DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: Compared to literature report, the residents had higher depression scale. Color vision threshold was not higher compared to general population near an industrial complex. Vibration perception threshold was significantly higher than the residents of similar age living near an abandoned mine in southern coastal area only in the age group of forties. These suggests there is some evidence of neuropsychiatric effect related to oil cleaning work and a mid- and long-term study of the oil exposure health effects with continuous monitoring should be done for the exposed residents in the affected area.
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Summary
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by  - Cancer Incidence Trend in the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Area, from 1999 to 2014: An Ecological Study
Kyung-Hwa Choi, Myung-Sook Park, Mina Ha, Jong-Il Hur, Hae-Kwan Cheong
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2018; 15(5): 1006. CrossRef - Inquiring into activist publics in chronic environmental issues: use of the mutual-gains approach for breaking a deadlock
Soojin Kim, Jeong-Nam Kim, Laishan Tam, Gwang Tae Kim
Journal of Public Affairs.2015; 15(4): 404. CrossRef - Community mental health status six months after the Sewol ferry disaster in Ansan, Korea
Hee Jung Yang, Hae Kwan Cheong, Bo Youl Choi, Min-Ho Shin, Hyeon Woo Yim, Dong-Hyun Kim, Gawon Kim, Soon Young Lee
Epidemiology and Health.2015; 37: e2015046. CrossRef - Disaster management from the perspective of governance: case study of the Hebei Spirit oil spill
JoonâYoung Hur
Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal.2012; 21(3): 288. CrossRef - Psychological Health in Residents Participating in Clean-up Works of Hebei Spirit Oil Spill
Minkyo Song, Yun-Chul Hong, Hae-Kwan Cheong, Mina Ha, Hojang Kwon, Eun-Hee Ha, Yeyong Choi, Woo-Chul Jeong, Jongil Hur, Seung-Min Lee, Eun-Jung Kim
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.2009; 42(2): 82. CrossRef
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