title: Human health and ecological assessment programs for Hebei Spirit oil spill accident of 2007: Status, lessons, and future challenges.
abstract: Hebei Spirit oil spill (HSOS) of December 2007 is one of the worst oil spill accidents that occurred in Yellow Sea. The affected coastline along the west coast of Korean Peninsula hosts one of the largest tidal flats worldwide, and is home to tens of thousands of human residents. Based on nation-wide concerns on ecosystem damages and adverse human health effects, two separate surveillance programs on ecosystem and human health were initiated: a 10-year follow-up program by Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to assess ecological impacts of the oil spill, and an exposure and health effect assessment program by Ministry of Environment for the residents of Taean and its vicinity. For the past eight years, extensive monitoring and surveillance data on ecosystem and humans have been accumulated through these programs. But these studies have been conducted mostly independently, and collaborations were seldom made between two programs. The lack of communication resulted in gaps and overlaps between the programs which led to loss of critical information and efficiency. As oil spill can affect both humans and ecosystem through various pathways, collaboration and communication between human and ecosystem health surveillance programs are necessary, and will synergize the success of both programs. Such concerted efforts will provide better platform for understanding the status of impact, and for developing approaches to address human and ecosystem health challenges that may be faced following environmental disasters like HSOS.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Institute of Health and Environment, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Korea Environment Institute, Sejong 30147, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dawoon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Taean Environmental Health Center, Taean 32148, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Taean Environmental Health Center, Taean 32148, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myung-Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Un Hyuk
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Institute of Health and Environment, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kyungho@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kyungho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D017753:Ecosystem; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010578:Petroleum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Ecosystem health assessment; Hebei Spirit oil spill; Human health assessment; Long-term monitoring