Assessing Self-Rated Physical Health Scores Following Repeat Exposure to Anthropogenic and Natural Hazards in...

Research connects health outcomes to hazard exposures but often neglects the nature of the exposure or repeated events.

We undertook a cross-sectional study (N = 1,094) from a representative sample in the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area (HMSA). Respondents were recruited using Qualtrics panels, targeting individuals reflecting the population of the HMSA. Physical composite scores (PCS) were calculated using the SF-12v2.

Among the hazards (hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, chemical spills, industrial fires), only chemical spills showed a dose-response: physical health scores declined significantly with repeated exposures. This decline persisted after multiple linear regression. Covariates including sex, race, age, education, and chemical exposure affected PCS, but chemical spill exposure remained the most significant, negatively affecting PCS even after adjusting for other factors (coef =-2.24, 95% CI, -3.33 to -1.15).

Grasping the effects of hazards, especially repeated ones, can guide emergency management in mitigation, recovery, and preparedness efforts.