Tuberc Respir Dis.  2009 Sep;67(3):249-253.

A Case of Respiratory Failure after Clean-up Work of the Hebei Spirit Crude Oil Spill in Taean

• Kyung SY
• Chon SY
• Kim YJ
• Lee SP
• Park JW
• Jeong SH

Abstract

On 7 December 2007, the Hebei Spirit ran aground near Taean and released approximately 10,900 tons of oil into the sea. Crude oil on the coastal areas and fumes in the air increased the number of health problems among the local population. We report a case of respiratory failure after the oil spill clean-up work. A 66-year-old female was admitted to hospital with cough, sputum, and dyspnea of 1-month duration after the oil spill clean-up. She was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and treated with empirical antibiotics. However, she had progressive respiratory failure without identification of the pathogen. Respiratory failure due to chronic inhalation of hydrocarbons from the crude oil spill clean-up was suspected. After mechanical ventilation care, she recovered from respiratory failure and was discharged. We report a case of severe respiratory toxic effects after an oil spill clean-up. We concluded that long-term hydrocarbon inhalation during the oil spill clean-up may have induced respiratory failure in this case.

Keyword

Petroleum; Hydrocarbons; Respiratory insufficiency

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cough
Dyspnea
Female
Humans
Hydrocarbons
Inhalation
Petroleum
Petroleum Pollution
Pneumonia
Respiration, Artificial
Respiratory Insufficiency
Sputum
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Hydrocarbons
Petroleum

Figure

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  Figure 1 Maps of the oil spill area including patient's residence (adapted and modified from Ministry of Environment). The gray colored parts in the sea indicate the areas contaminated by oil spill in chronologic order (date marked in boxes). Oil spill accident area and patient's home specified with white boxes. After 3 days from accident (9 Dec, 2007), crude oil arrived at the residence of patient.

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  Figure 2 The radiologic changes in the patients. (A) Chest PA on admission, (B) hospital day (HD) 20, (C) HD 27, (D) HD 45, (E) HD 80, (F) Chest CT on HD 2, (G) HD 26, (H) HD 80. The radiologic findings showed migrating patchy consolidations with ground glass opacities during hospital days.

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