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Int J Environ Res Public Health

Title:		"The Intercontinental Terminals Chemical Fire Study: A Rapid Response to an Industrial Disaster to Address Resident Concerns in Deer Park, Texas"
Author(s):		An Han H; Han I; McCurdy S; Whitworth K; Delclos G; Rammah A; Symanski E;
Address:		"Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, 1200 Pressler, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030 USA. UTHealth School of Public Health in San Antonio, 7411 John Smith, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA"
Journal Title:		Int J Environ Res Public Health
Year:		2020
Volume:		20200205
Issue:		3
Page Number:		-
DOI:		10.3390/ijerph17030986
ISSN/ISBN:		1660-4601 (Electronic) 1661-7827 (Print) 1660-4601 (Linking)
Abstract:		"On Sunday, 17 March 2019, a fire erupted at the Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC, Deer Park, La Porte, TX, USA), resulting in a large fire that blazed for several days. In response, we rapidly launched disaster response activities to monitor air pollutants (total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)), black carbon (BC), and ultra-fine particles (UFPs) during the fire in two affected communities. To assess immediate health effects and residential air quality, we also rapidly launched a pilot study, the Deer Park Chemical Fire (DeeP Fire) Study, in which we administered health surveys and installed samplers to monitor air quality outdoors of resident homes for up to six weeks. In both communities, mean ambient concentrations of PM(2.5), BC and TVOCs were higher during the first week of the fire than a week after it was extinguished. Thirteen residents participated in the DeeP Fire Study. Most residents reported experiencing respiratory symptoms and some reported being bothered by at least one post-traumatic stress disorder symptom during the fire and two weeks afterwards. In the months following the fire, the 7-day mean ambient concentration of benzene from 12 homes was 0.13 +/- 0.10 parts per billion (ppb) and the 6-week mean ambient concentrations of PM(2.5) and TVOCs were 13 +/- 6 microg/m(3) and 108 +/- 98 ppb, respectively. All residents requested and received individualized air monitoring reports. Surveillance systems that enable real-time monitoring of the environmental health impact during a major industrial incident are needed to provide timely information to adequately respond to a disaster in the future"
Keywords:		Air Pollution/analysis Animals Benzene *Disasters Environmental Monitoring/methods *Fires Health Surveys Humans *Industry Particulate Matter/analysis Pilot Projects Soot/analysis Texas Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis ITC fire air pollution black carb;
Notes:		"MedlineAn Han, Heyreoun Han, Inkyu McCurdy, Sheryl Whitworth, Kristina Delclos, George Rammah, Amal Symanski, Elaine eng P30 ES030285/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ T42 OH008421/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Switzerland 2020/02/09 Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb 5; 17(3):986. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17030986"