Allergic Sensitization in Inhabitants 4 years After the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill

Abstract

Background: We found a significant dose-response relationship between the prevalence of allergic diseases assessed by questionnaire-based surveys and the Hebei Spirit oil spill exposure 1-2 years later. Aims: This study was to evaluate the relationship between the allergic sensitization assessed by skin prick tests and the Hebei Spirit oil spill exposure 4 years after the accident. Methods: Allergic sensitivity was concluded from a positive skin prick test among 12 species in 1147 residents in heavily affected area from the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Results: A positive response to at least one allergen was 13.7% of participants. The positive rate of allergic reaction was significantly elevated with increasing the distance from the oil spill point to the residence after controling the confounders in the model. The prevalenc of atopic sensitization to common aeroallergens was two times significantly higher in within 0.5 km from the early contaminated coastline to the residence as compared with over 1.0 km. Allergic sensitization showed a linear increase according to the total number of days of clean-up work, although the differnce was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Allergic sensitization was associated with the oil spill exposure indictors even 4 years after the accident. The crude oil constituents may increase susceptibility to common aeroallergens by enhancing the response to inflammatory stimuli.