title: Health complaints among subjects involved in oil cleanup operations during oil spillage from a Greek tanker "Tasman Spirit".
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oil spillage in the sea water is a disaster for marine life and humans in the vicinity. The study aimed at investigating health complaints among subjects involved in oil cleanup operations during a spillage from a Greek oil tanker "Tasman Spirit".
  
  
  METHODS
  The project was conducted under the supervision of the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study concerned the respiratory and general health complaints in 50 apparently healthy, non-smoking male workers exposed to crude oil during oil cleanup operations. The exposed group was matched with a similar number of male, non-smoking controls. The health complaints were evaluated based on a comprehensive interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects involved in oil cleanup operations had significantly higher rates of health complaints including cough (38%), runny nose (36%), eye irritation/redness (32%), sore throat (28%), headache (28%), nausea (24%) and general illness (18%), compared to their matched controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Air pollution due to crude oil spillage into sea water may cause respiratory and general health complaints in workers involved in oil cleanup operations.
authors: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. sultanmeo@hotmail.com
authors: Sultan Ayoub
authors: SA
authors: Meo
authors: Abdul Majeed
authors: AM
authors: Al-Drees
authors: Shahzad
authors: S
authors: Rasheed
authors: Imran Mu
authors: IM
authors: Meo
authors: Muslim M
authors: MM
authors: Al-Saadi
authors: Hamza A
authors: HA
authors: Ghani
authors: Jasem Ramadan
authors: JR
authors: Alkandari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004190:Disasters; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D012767:Ships
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum