Health complaints among subjects involved in oil cleanup operations during oil spillage from a Greek tanker "Tasman Spirit".
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.
Meo
Sultan Ayoub
SA
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. sultanmeo@hotmail.com
Al-Drees
Abdul Majeed
AM
Rasheed
Shahzad
S
Meo
Imran Mu
IM
Al-Saadi
Muslim M
MM
Ghani
Hamza A
HA
Alkandari
Jasem Ramadan
JR
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
D010578:Petroleum