Volatile hydrocarbon exposures and immune-related illnesses among Deepwater Horizon oil spill workers.

Background: Despite evidence from experimental studies linking some petroleum hydrocarbons to markers of immune suppression, limited epidemiologic research exists on this topic.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine associations of oil spill related chemicals (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and n-hexane (BTEX-H)) and total hydrocarbons (THC) with immune-related illnesses as indicators of potential immune suppression.

Methods: Subjects comprised 8601 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill clean-up and response workers who participated in a home visit (1-3 years after the DWH spill) in the Gulf Long-term Follow-up (GuLF) Study.

Residential natural hazard risk and mental health effects.

Mental health effects are frequently reported following natural disasters. However, little is known about effects of living in a hazard-prone region on mental health. We analyzed data from 9,312 Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study participants who completed standardized mental health questionnaires including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (depression=score≥10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (anxiety=score≥10), and Primary Care PTSD Screen (PTSD=score≥3).

Childhood and adolescent residential and farm pesticide exposures and inflammatory bowel disease incidence in a U.S. cohort of women.

Background And Aims: There are few known risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation. Use of specific pesticides has been associated with higher incidence of IBD among pesticide applicators and their spouses, but no study has examined pesticide exposure in early life, a period where the human immune system undergoes rapid changes. We evaluated pesticide use during childhood and adolescence and incidence of IBD among US women enrolled in the Sister Study.

Residential proximity to toxic metal-emitting industrial sites and toenail metal concentrations in a United States-wide prospective cohort.

Background: Industrial facilities across the United States (US) release millions of pounds of toxic chemicals, including metals. Exposure to toxic metals has been associated with adverse health outcomes, but there is limited evidence on the association between living near metal-releasing facilities and the body burden of emitted compounds.

Objective: To investigate the association between residential proximity to toxic metal-emitting industrial facilities and toenail metal concentrations and to evaluate whether associations differed by race.

Air pollution and epigenetic aging among Black and White women in the US.

Background: DNA methylation-based measures of biological aging have been associated with air pollution and may link pollutant exposures to aging-related health outcomes. However, evidence is inconsistent and there is little information for Black women.

Objective: We examined associations of ambient particulate matter <2.

Residential proximity to metal emitting industries and toenail metal concentration in the US Gulf States.

Objective: The US Gulf region is heavily reliant on metal-emitting petrochemical and manufacturing industries. We characterized the effect of residential proximity to metal-emitting sites and metal body burden in Gulf states residents with particular attention to potential differential exposure burden by race.

Methods: We measured toenail concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 413 non-smoking men from the Gulf Long-term Follow-Up Study.

Association between spill-related exposure to fine particulate matter and peripheral motor and sensory nerve function among oil spill response and cleanup workers following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Background: Burning/flaring of oil/gas during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) generated high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM). Personnel working on the water during these activities may have inhaled combustion products. Neurologic effects of PM have been reported previously but few studies have examined lasting effects following disaster exposures.

Reliability of low mass toenail samples as biomarkers of chronic metal exposure.

Background: Toenails are a promising matrix for chronic metal exposure assessment, but there are currently no standard methods for collection and analysis. Questions remain about sample mass requirements and the extent to which metals measured in this matrix are representative of chronic body burden.

Objective: This study proposes a method to maximize sample conservation for toenail metals analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Volatile Hydrocarbon Exposures and Incident Coronary Heart Disease Events: Up to Ten Years of Follow-up among Oil Spill Workers.

Background: During the 2010 () disaster, response and cleanup workers were potentially exposed to toxic volatile components of crude oil. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined exposure to individual oil spill-related chemicals in relation to cardiovascular outcomes among oil spill workers.

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the association of several spill-related chemicals [benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, -hexane (BTEX-H)] and total hydrocarbons (THC) with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events among workers enrolled in a prospective cohort.

Nontraditional Occupational Exposures to Crude Oil Combustion Disasters and Respiratory Disease Risk: A Narrative Review of Literature.

Purpose Of Review: Burning of petroleum products has been consistently associated with adverse respiratory health effects. Combustion of crude oil, specifically, produces toxic byproducts, but there have been relatively few studies of health effects. Burning of crude oil is increasingly employed as a means of mitigating environmental disasters despite the potential health risks to workers involved in clean-up efforts.

Exposure to volatile hydrocarbons and neurologic function among oil spill workers up to 6 years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Background: During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) workers were exposed to toxic volatile components of crude oil. Few studies have examined exposure to individual volatile hydrocarbon chemicals below occupational exposure limits in relation to neurologic function among OSRC workers.

Objectives: To investigate the association of several spill-related chemicals (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, n-hexane, i.

Neighborhood disadvantage and immune-related illnesses among residents living in the US Gulf States.

Purpose: Neighborhood disadvantage has been associated with increased risk for pneumonia and influenza-associated hospitalizations. Few studies, however, have investigated how neighborhood disadvantage may influence immune-related illnesses. The aim of this study was to examine the association between neighborhooddisadvantage and immune-related illnesses.

Fine particulate matter and incident coronary heart disease events up to 10 years of follow-up among Deepwater Horizon oil spill workers.

Background: During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, in-situ burning and flaring were conducted to remove oil from the water. Workers near combustion sites were potentially exposed to burning-related fine particulate matter (PM). Exposure to PM has been linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but no study has examined the relationship among oil spill workers.

Associations between airborne crude oil chemicals and symptom-based asthma.

Rationale: The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) workers were exposed to airborne total hydrocarbons (THC), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-, m-, and p-xylenes and n-hexane (BTEX-H) from crude oil and PM from burning/flaring oil and natural gas. Little is known about asthma risk among oil spill cleanup workers.

Objectives: We assessed the relationship between asthma and several oil spill-related exposures including job classes, THC, individual BTEX-H chemicals, the BTEX-H mixture, and PM using data from the Gulf Long-Term Follow-up (GuLF) Study, a prospective cohort of 24,937 cleanup workers and 7,671 nonworkers following the DWH disaster.

The Case for Case-Cohort: An Applied Epidemiologist's Guide to Reframing Case-Cohort Studies to Improve Usability and Flexibility.

When research questions require the use of precious samples, expensive assays or equipment, or labor-intensive data collection or analysis, nested case-control or case-cohort sampling of observational cohort study participants can often reduce costs. These study designs have similar statistical precision for addressing a singular research question, but case-cohort studies have broader efficiency and superior flexibility. Despite this, case-cohort designs are comparatively underutilized in the epidemiologic literature.

Fine Particulate Matter and Lung Function among Burning-Exposed Oil Spill Workers.

Background: During the 2010 () disaster, controlled burning was conducted to remove oil from the water. Workers near combustion sites were potentially exposed to increased fine particulate matter [with aerodynamic diameter ()] levels. Exposure to has been linked to decreased lung function, but to our knowledge, no study has examined exposure encountered in an oil spill cleanup.

Association between neighbourhood deprivation and hypertension in a US-wide Cohort.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) at the individual level is associated with hypertension risk. Less is known about neighbourhood level SES or how neighbourhood and individual level SES may jointly affect hypertension risk.

Methods: The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) includes 17 census-based measures reflecting neighbourhood SES.

Spirometry quality predictors in a large multistate prospective study.

Background: The Gulf Long-Term Follow-up (GuLF) Study is a prospective cohort study of health effects associated with oil spill response and clean-up following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Disaster (DWH). As part of the study, spirometry testing of lung function was carried out in home visits across multiple states. Few studies have described factors associated with spirometry test failure in field-based settings.

Ambient particulate matter, ozone, and neurologic symptoms in U.S. Gulf states adults.

Research on neurologic effects of air pollution has focused on neurodevelopment or later-life neurodegeneration; other effects throughout adulthood have received less attention. We examined air pollution levels and neurologic symptoms among 21,467 adults in US Gulf Coast states. We assigned exposure using Environmental Protection Agency estimates of daily ambient particulate matter 2.