Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2013 Nov;5(6):365-370. 10.4168/aair.2013.5.6.365.

Respiratory Effects of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill on Children in Taean, Korea

• Jung SC
• Kim KM
• Lee KS
• Roh S
• Jeong WC
• Kwak SJ
• Lee IJ
• Choi YH
• Noh SR
• Hur JI
• Jee YK

• KMID: 2260279
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2013.5.6.365

Abstract

PURPOSE
The oil spill from the Heibei Spirit in December 2007 contaminated the Yellow Coast of South Korea. We evaluated the respiratory effects of that spill on children who lived along the Yellow Coast.
METHODS
Of 662 children living in the area exposed to the oil spill, 436 (65.9%) were enrolled as subjects. All subjects completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. A health examination, including a skin prick test, pulmonary function test, and methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT), was administered. The children were assigned to two groups: those who lived close to the oil spill area and those who lived far from the oil spill area.
RESULTS
The children who lived close to the oil spill area showed a significantly lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), an increased prevalence of 'asthma ever' (based on a questionnaire), and 'airway hyperresponsiveness' (based on the MBPT) than those who lived far from the oil spill area (FEV1; P=0.011, prevalence of 'asthma ever' based on a questionnaire; P=0.005, prevalence of 'airway hyperresponsiveness' based on the MBPT; P=0.001). The onset of wheezing after the oil spill was significantly higher in children who lived close to the oil spill area than in those who lived far from the oil spill area among the 'wheeze ever' group (P=0.002). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, male sex, family history of asthma, and residence near the oil spill area were significant risk factors for asthma (sex [male/female]: odds ratio [OR], 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-4.91; family history of asthma [No/Yes]: OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.83-7.75; exposure group [low/high]; OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.27-4.65).
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that exposure to an oil spill is a risk factor for asthma in children.

Keyword

Asthma; airway hyperresponsiveness; prevalence; industrial oils

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Child
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Industrial Oils
Korea
Logistic Models
Male
Methacholine Chloride
Odds Ratio
Petroleum Pollution
Prevalence
Republic of Korea
Respiratory Function Tests
Respiratory Sounds
Risk Factors
Skin
Surveys and Questionnaires
Methacholine Chloride

Figure

• 

  Figure Map showing the location of the Heibei Spirit oil spill and the areas of high and low exposure according to the distance from the spill.

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