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Association between spill-related exposure to fine particulate matter and peripheral motor and sensory nerve function among oil spill response and cleanup workers following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Burning/flaring of oil/gas during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) generated high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Personnel working on the water during these activities may have inhaled combustion products. Neurologic effects of PM2.5 have been reported previously but few studies have examined lasting effects following disaster exposures. The association of brief, high exposures and adverse effects on sensory and motor nerve function in the years following exposure have not been examined for OSRC workers.

Objectives

We assessed the relationship between exposure to burning/flaring-related PM2.5 and measures of sensory and motor nerve function among OSRC workers.

Methods

PM2.5 concentrations were estimated from Gaussian plume dispersion models and linked to self-reported work histories. Quantitative measures of sensory and motor nerve function were obtained 4–6 years after the disaster during a clinical exam restricted to those living close to two clinics in Mobile, AL or New Orleans, LA (n = 3401). We obtained covariate data from a baseline enrollment survey and a home visit, both in 2011–2013. The analytic sample included 1186 participants.

Results

We did not find strong evidence of associations between exposure to PM2.5 and sensory or motor nerve function, although there was a suggestion of impairment based on single leg stance among individuals with high exposure to PM2.5. Results were generally consistent whether we examined average or cumulative maximum exposures or removed individuals with the highest crude oil exposures to account for co-pollutant confounding. There was no evidence of exposure-response trends.

Impact statement

Remediating environmental disasters is essential for long-term human and environmental health. During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster, burning and flaring of oil and gas were used to remove these pollutants from the environment, but led to potentially high fine particulate matter exposures for spill response workers working on the water. We investigate the potential adverse effects of these exposures on peripheral nerve function; understanding the potential health harm of remediation tactics is necessary to inform future clean up approaches and protect human health.

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Fig. 1: Associations between PM2.5 (average and cumulative exposures) and postural sway or vibrotactile threshold outcomes.
Fig. 2: Associations between PM2.5 and visual contrast sensitivity.
Fig. 3: Associations between PM2.5 (average and cumulative exposures) and single leg stance.

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Data availability

The data are not available on-line for replication, but requests for study data to be shared under individualized Data Sharing Agreements may be made through the GuLF Study management site (see instructions at https://gulfstudy.nih.gov/en/forresearchers.html).

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Mark Bodkin and Kate Christenbury for data management on this project.

Funding

This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (ZO1 ES 102945), as well as the following grant: NIH/NIEHS R01ES031127.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Christina L. Norris & Lawrence S. Engel

  2. Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Dale P. Sandler, Kaitlyn G. Lawrence, Richard K. Kwok, Emily J. Werder & Lawrence S. Engel

  3. Division of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Gregory C. Pratt

  4. Exposure Assessment Applications, LLC, Arlington, VA, USA

    Mark R. Stenzel

  5. Stewart Exposure Assessments, LLC, Arlington, VA, USA

    Patricia A. Stewart

  6. Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holding company, Durham, NC, USA

    W. Braxton Jackson II

  7. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Fredric E. Gerr

  8. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, USA

    Caroline Groth

  9. Department of Biostatistics, University of California-Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Sudipto Banerjee

  10. Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Richard K. Kwok

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  1. Christina L. Norris
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Contributions

CLN conducted the data analyses and drafted the manuscript. LSE and DPS oversaw the analyses. GCP, MRS, PAS, CG and SB generated the exposure data. All authors contributed to the interpretation of the data, and reviewed and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lawrence S. Engel.

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Norris, C.L., Sandler, D.P., Pratt, G.C. et al. Association between spill-related exposure to fine particulate matter and peripheral motor and sensory nerve function among oil spill response and cleanup workers following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-023-00558-6

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