title: Odour as a determinant of persistent symptoms after a chemical explosion, a longitudinal study.
abstract: Foul-smelling environmental pollution was a major concern following a chemical workplace explosion. Malodorous pollution has previously been associated with aggravated physical and psychological health, and in persons affected by a trauma, an incidence-related odour can act as a traumatic reminder. Olfaction may even be of significance in the development and persistence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The present longitudinal study assessed whether perceived smell related to malodorous environmental pollution in the aftermath of the explosion was a determinant of subjective health complaints (SHC) and PTSS among gainfully employed adults, when the malodorous pollution was present, and after pollution clean-up. Questionnaire data from validated instruments were analysed using mixed effects models. Individual odour scores were computed, and the participants (n=486) were divided into high and low odour score groups, respectively. Participants in the high odour score group (n=233) reported more SHC and PTSS than those in the low odour score group (n=253), before and even after the pollution was eliminated. These associations lasted for at least three years after the pollution was removed, and might indicate that prompt clean-up is important to avoid persistent health effects after malodorous chemical spills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Gro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tjalvin
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Magerøy
authors.forename: Magne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bråtveit
authors.forename: Stein Håkon Låstad
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lygre
authors.forename: Bjørg Eli
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Hollund
authors.forename: Bente Elisabeth
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Moen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D005107:Explosions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D013457:Sulfur Compounds