Epidemiological study air disaster in Amsterdam (ESADA): study design.
BACKGROUND
In 1992, a cargo aircraft crashed into apartment buildings in Amsterdam, killing 43 victims and destroying 266 apartments. In the aftermath there were speculations about the cause of the crash, potential exposures to hazardous materials due to the disaster and the health consequences. Starting in 2000, the Epidemiological Study Air Disaster in Amsterdam (ESADA) aimed to assess the long-term health effects of occupational exposure to this disaster on professional assistance workers.


METHODS
Epidemiological study among all the exposed professional fire-fighters and police officers who performed disaster-related task(s), and hangar workers who sorted the wreckage of the aircraft, as well as reference groups of their non-exposed colleagues who did not perform any disaster-related tasks. The study took place, on average, 8.5 years after the disaster. Questionnaires were used to assess details on occupational exposure to the disaster. Health measures comprised laboratory assessments in urine, blood and saliva, as well as self-reported current health measures, including health-related quality of life, and various physical and psychological symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
In this paper we describe and discuss the design of the ESADA. The ESADA will provide additional scientific knowledge on the long-term health effects of technological disasters on professional workers.
Slottje
Pauline
P
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. p.slottje@vumc.nl
Huizink
Anja C
AC
Twisk
Jos W R
JW
Witteveen
Anke B
AB
van der Ploeg
Henk M
HM
Bramsen
Inge
I
Smidt
Nynke
N
Bijlsma
Joost A
JA
Bouter
Lex M
LM
van Mechelen
Willem
W
Smid
Tjabe
T
D000060:Accidents, Aviation / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001359:Aviation; D004190:Disasters / Q000517:prevention & control; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016272:Occupational Health; D016495:Police; D011788:Quality of Life; D018635:Rescue Work; D012649:Self Concept; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D013995:Time; D000078329:Workforce
D015386:Hazardous Substances