Asthma Symptoms among Children 7 Years after the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill

Abstract

Introduction: In the previous studies, prevalence of asthma symptoms among children in oil exposed area showed differences by exposure classification at 1.5, 3, and 5 years after the Hebei Spirit oil spill accident. This follow-up study was to check the persistence of children’s respiratory health related to oil spill exposure 7 years after the accident. Methods: A total 867 students participated in the follow-up survey. Among them, the study subjects were 715 student after excluded above high school age. Information of asthma symptoms was obtained by questionnaire using International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Results: The prevalence of asthma symptoms among total participants was lower compared with the previous studies, but still higher than the nationwide results of Korea. Reported prevalence of “wheezing ever” were 16.6%, 20.9%, 22.6%, 15.9% and 10.5% for 1.5, 3, 5 and 7 years after the oil spill, and nationwide, respectively. The prevalence of “wheezing ever” among children visited to the affected coast was significantly higher than non-visited children after adjusting for age, sex, passive smoking (21.5% and 13.8%; p=0.01). The prevalence of “wheezing ever” among children visited to the affected coast within 1 month was significantly higher than non-visited children after adjusting for age, sex, passive smoking [OR (95% CI): 1.7 (1.03 – 2.76)]. The prevalence of “wheezing in the past 12 months” among children had no relation with exposure classification. Conclusions: We found that asthma symptoms among children in oil exposed area are still exist even 7 years later. Current asthma symptoms were not different by oil exposure maybe due to the children’s growth and recovery. Nonetheless, more study should be conducted with approaching from the other direction to determine the additional influence of oil spill because children are very sensitive to environment and toxicants.