Acute health effects of the Sea Empress oil spill.

摘要: STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether residents in the vicinity of Sea Empress tanker spill suffered an increase self reported physical and psychological symptoms, which might be attributable to exposure crude oil. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study; postal questionnaire including demographic details, a symptom checklist, beliefs about health effects oil Hospital Anxiety Depression SF-36 mental scales. SETTING: Populations living four coastal towns on exposed south Pembrokeshire coast two control unexposed north coast. PATIENTS: 539 550 people sampled at random from family services authority age-sex register who completed questionnaires. MAIN RESULTS: Adjusted odds ratios for symptoms; scores scales, 1089 responded out possible 1585 (69%). CONCLUSIONS: Living areas spillage was significantly associated with higher anxiety depression scores, worse health; headache (odds ratio = 2.35, 95% CI 1.56, 3.55), sore eyes 1.96, 1.06, 3.62), throat 1.70, 1.12, 2.60) after adjusting age, sex, smoking status, anxiety, belief that had affected health. People rates symptoms than areas. Symptoms adjustment were those expected known toxicological effect oil, suggesting direct population.