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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Chemical Analysis of Water-accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil Spills Using TIMS-FT-ICR MS
Published on: March 3, 2017
Dermal symptoms and diagnoses associated with Deepwater Horizon oil spill exposures
Jeffrey Wischhusen1, Jordan McAdam2,3, Hristina Denic-Roberts2,4
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University (USU), 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814, United States.
Abstract:
We evaluated acute and longer-term dermal health outcomes among U.S. Coast Guard responders to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill via cross-sectional and longitudinal (followed up to 5 years post spill) analyses. Associations between cross-sectional skin rash/itching and oil spill response exposures were evaluated with log-binomial regressions to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Incident outcomes were evaluated with multivariable Cox Proportional Hazard regression models. Ever (vs never) skin rash/itching prevalence was higher among responders exposed to crude oil + dispersant (aPR, 95% CI: 3.33, 2.41 to 4.59) than for crude oil only (aPR, 95% CI: 2.23, 1.77 to 2.80) when compared with responders exposed to neither. Statistically significant associations were observed primarily for unspecified diagnoses with no clear disease process. The environment of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill may have contributed to skin rash/itching and long-term dermatologic conditions in responders.
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