| Title: | [The effects of wearing protective devices among residents and volunteers participating in the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill] |
| Author(s): | Lee SM; Ha M; Kim EJ; Jeong WC; Hur J; Park SG; Kwon H; Hong YC; Ha EH; Lee JS; Chung BC; Lee J; Im H; Choi Y; Cho YM; Cheong HK; |
| Address: | "Citizen's Institute for Environmental Studies, Korean Federation for Environmental Movement, Korea" |
| DOI: | 10.3961/jpmph.2009.42.2.89 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1975-8375 (Print) 1975-8375 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "OBJECTIVES: To assess the protective effects of wearing protective devices among the residents and volunteers who participated in the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill. METHODS: A total of 288 residents and 724 volunteers were surveyed about symptoms, whether they were wearing protective devices and potential confounding variables. The questionnaires were administered from the second to the sixth week following the accident. Spot urine samples were collected and analyzed for metabolites of 4 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 2 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 6 heavy metals. The association between the wearing of protective devices and various symptoms was assessed using a multiple logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables. A multiple generalized linear regression model adjusted for the covariates was used to test for a difference in least-square mean concentration of urinary biomarkers between residents who wore protective devices and those who did not. RESULTS: Thirty nine to 98% of the residents and 62-98% of volunteers wore protective devices. Levels of fatigue and fever were higher among residents not wearing masks than among those who did wear masks (odds ratio 4.5; 95% confidence interval 1.23-19.86). Urinary mercury levels were found to be significantly higher among residents not wearing work clothes or boots (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 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" |
| Keywords: | "Adult Aged Biomarkers/urine *Disasters Environmental Exposure/*prevention & control Environmental Pollutants/*urine Female Gloves, Protective Humans Male Masks Metals, Heavy/urine Middle Aged Oceans and Seas *Petroleum Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/uri;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineLee, Seung-Min Ha, Mina Kim, Eun-Jung Jeong, Woo-Chul Hur, Jongil Park, Seok Gun Kwon, Hojang Hong, Yun-Chul Ha, Eun-Hee Lee, Jong Seung Chung, Bong Chul Lee, Jeongae Im, Hosub Choi, Yeyong Cho, Yong-Min Cheong, Hae-Kwan kor Korea (South) 2009/04/08 J Prev Med Public Health. 2009 Mar; 42(2):89-95. doi: 10.3961/jpmph.2009.42.2.89" |
