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.

Content and face validity of preference-based quality of life instruments in indigenous youth experiencing mental health problems: a qualitative study.

Background: Mainstream preference-based quality of life (QoL) measures have been traditionally based on Western principles of health. It is critical to examine whether existing preference-based QoL measures capture what is important to Indigenous people while being comprehensive and culturally acceptable. This study aims to assess the content and face validity of the EuroQol-5 dimensions 5-levels (EQ-5D-5 L), 12-item short form survey (SF-12), assessment of quality of life-6 dimensions (AQoL-6D), and recovering quality of life 10-item (ReQoL-10) within the context of indigenous youth mental health.

Conception and development of a neurological registry of patients with persistent health impairments following work-related COVID-19 disease in Germany.

Background: Healthcare and social workers had an increased occupational risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic. Some developed long-lasting symptoms known as post-COVID syndrome (PCS). To assess the consequences of COVID-19 for individuals insured by the German Social Accident Insurance, the BG hospitals (Berufsgenossenschaftliche Kliniken: clinics for occupational accident insurance) established an interdisciplinary diagnostic programme.

The environmental neuroactive chemicals list of prioritized substances for human biomonitoring and neurotoxicity testing: A database and high-throughput toxicokinetics approach.

There is a diversity of chemicals to which humans are potentially exposed. Few of these chemicals have linked human biomonitoring data, and most have very limited neurotoxicity testing. Of particular concern are environmental exposures impacting children, who constitute a population of heightened susceptibility due to rapid neural growth and plasticity, yet lack biomonitoring data compared to other age/population subgroups.

Impact of genetic polymorphisms on associations between crude oil exposure and health effects among Coast Guard Deepwater Horizon responders.

The U.S. Coast Guard led a clean-up response to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, the largest marine oil spill in history.