Immediate and long-term health impact of exposure to gas-mining induced earthquakes and related environmental stressors.

Michel L A Dückers,Christos Baliatsas,Robert A Verheij,Lennart Reifels,Peter Spreeuwenberg,C Joris Yzermans

doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckaa244

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about the public health impact of chronic exposure to physical and social stressors in the human environment. Objective of this study was to investigate the immediate and long-term health effects of living in an environment with gas-mining induced earthquakes and related stressors in the Netherlands.MethodsData on psychological, somatic and social problems recorded routinely in electronic health records by general practitioners during a 6-year period (2010–2015) were combined with socioeconomic status and seismicity data. To assess immediate health effects of exposure to ML≥1.5 earthquakes, relative risk ratios were calculated for patients in the week of an earthquake and the week afterwards, and compared to the week before the earthquake. To analyse long-term health effects, relative risks of different groups, adjusted for age, sex and socioeconomic status, were computed per year and compared.ResultsApart from an increase in suicidality, few immediate health changes were found in an earthquake week or week afterwards. Generally, the prevalence of health problems was higher in the mining province in the first years, but dropped to levels equal to or even below the control group in subsequent years, with lower relative risks observed in more frequently exposed patients.ConclusionsFrom a public health perspective, the findings are fascinating. Contrary to our expectation, health problems presented in general practice in the earthquake province decreased during the study period. More frequently exposed populations reported fewer health issues to general practitioners, which might point at health adaptation to chronic exposure to stressors.

Highlights

In recent decades the health impact of exposure to disasters has been studied extensively
Despite the growing understanding of the health impact of disasters and relevant risk factors[1,4,8], little is known about the timing of symptom onset, especially in a context of slow-onset, creeping, recurring or chronic crises that can be accompanied by substantial stressors
Study design A longitudinal study was conducted based on routinely recorded electronic health record data from general practices in the earthquake province and in a control group outside this area, considering sex and age, seismic exposure and socioeconomic status

Summary

Introduction

In recent decades the health impact of exposure to disasters has been studied extensively. Despite the growing understanding of the health impact of disasters and relevant risk factors[1,4,8], little is known about the timing of symptom onset, especially in a context of slow-onset, creeping, recurring or chronic crises that can be accompanied by substantial stressors. Such circumstances are preferably studied with prospective, longitudinal designs that address the prevalence of a broad range of physical, psychological and social health problems, while considering exposure intensity and incorporating control groups. More frequently exposed populations reported fewer health issues to general practitioners, which might point at health adaptation to chronic exposure to stressors

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion