title: Airway symptoms and lung function in the local population after the oil tank explosion in Gulen, Norway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oil tanks containing a mixture of hydrocarbons, including sulphuric compounds, exploded and caught fire in an industrial harbour. This study assesses airway symptoms and lung function in the nearby population 1½ years after the explosion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study included individuals ≥18 years old. Individuals living <6 km (sub-groups <3km and 3-6 km) from the accident site formed the exposed group, individuals living >20 km away formed a control group. A questionnaire and spirometry tests were completed by 223 exposed individuals (response rate men 70%, women 75%) and 179 control individuals (response rate men 51%, women 65%). Regression analyses included adjustment for smoking, occupational exposure, atopy, infection in the preceding month and age. Analyses of symptoms were also adjusted for stress reactions related to the accident.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposed individuals experienced significantly more blocked nose (odds ratio 1.7 [95% confidence interval 1.0, 2.8]), rhinorrhoea (1.6 [1.1, 3.3]), nose irritation (3.4 [2.0, 5.9]), sore throat (3.1 [1.8, 5.5]), morning cough (3.5 [2.0, 5.5]), daily cough (2.2 [1.4, 3.7]), cough >3 months a year (2.9 [1.5, 5.3]) and cough with phlegm (1.9 [1.2, 3.1]) than control individuals. A significantly increasing trend was found for nose symptoms and cough, depending on the proximity of home address to explosion site (daily cough, 3-6km 1.8 [1.0, 3.1], <3km 3.0 [1.7, 6.4]). Lung function measurements were significantly lower in the exposed group than in the control group, FEV1 adjusted mean difference -123 mL [95% confidence interval -232, -14]), FEV1% predicted -2.5 [-5.5, 0.5], FVC -173 mL [- 297, -50], FVC% predicted -3.1 [- 5.9, -0.4], and airway obstruction (GOLD II/III).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on cross sectional analyses, individuals living in an area with air pollution from an oil tank explosion had more airway symptoms and lower lung function than a control group 1½ years after the incident.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. jens-tore.granslo@helse-bergen.no
authors.forename: Jens-Tore
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Granslo
authors.forename: Magne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bråtveit
authors.forename: Bjørg Eli
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Hollund
authors.forename: Ågot
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Irgens
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svanes
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Magerøy
authors.forename: Bente Elisabeth
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Moen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005107:Explosions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires