Health complaints after a malodorous chemical explosion: a longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Occupational Health
• Toxicology

Background:

• Industrial accidents can cause physical and psychological symptoms in affected populations.
• Long-term health effects on workers exposed to malodorous emissions post-chemical explosion are understudied.
• Most existing research focuses on residents, leaving a knowledge gap regarding worker health impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the change in subjective health complaints (SHC) among workers over a four-year period following an oil tank explosion.
• To investigate the long-term health consequences of exposure to malodorous, sulfurous compounds emitted from industrial incidents.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal survey was conducted from 2008 to 2012, utilizing the Subjective Health Complaints (SHC) inventory.
• Questionnaire data were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model to assess trends in health complaints.
• Exposed workers were compared to control groups, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors.

Main Results:

• A decrease in overall subjective health complaints was observed among exposed workers during the follow-up period.
• Exposed workers reported significantly higher levels of subjective neurological symptoms compared to controls (P < 0.01).
• Statistical adjustments were made for gender, age, smoking habits, education, and proximity to the explosion site.

Conclusions:

• Despite a downward trend in general health complaints, exposed workers exhibited persistent subjective neurological symptoms.
• Perceived pollution and health risk perception may mediate the observed symptoms.
• Chronic effects, possibly due to adaptation or anxiety, may manifest as persistent neuropsychological responses.