Associations between airborne crude oil chemicals and neurological symptoms among workers in the gulf long-term follow-up study.

Background: Many volatile organic compounds may be neurotoxic at occupational levels. However, little is known about the neurotoxicity of these chemicals below occupational exposure limits, including among oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) workers.

Objective: We studied associations of neurological symptoms with exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and n-hexane (BTEX-H) individually and as a mixture among 23,641 OSRC workers enrolled in the Gulf Long-Term Follow-up (GuLF) Study, a cohort following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Association of oil spill cleanup-related hydrocarbon exposure with hypertension and blood pressure in the Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study.

Background: Although several studies have demonstrated a relationship between crude oil exposures and cardiovascular disease, little is known about associations with hypertension.

Objective: Our study examined associations of oil spill cleanup-related benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and n-hexane (BTEX-H) exposures with hypertension prevalence and blood pressure (BP).

Methods: Participants comprised 6693 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill cleanup and response workers who completed a home visit in the Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study.

Early life trauma patterns and adult epigenome-wide and NR3C1-specific DNA methylation in the Sister Study.

Patterns of co-occurring early life trauma (ELT), unlike cumulative trauma, are understudied as potential stress-related health risks. DNA methylation (DNAm) is a posited mechanism linking socioenvironmental stress and disease pathogenesis. We assess whether ELT patterns differentially affect adult DNAm, both epigenome-wide and specifically stress-related genes (e.

Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors associated with residential natural hazard risk.

Background: Specific natural hazards are associated with increased chronic disease risk. Less is known about the impact of living in regions with elevated natural hazards risk.

Objective: We evaluated cross-sectional associations between predicted residential natural hazard risk and CVD-related risk factors.

Skin conditions associated with dermal exposure to oil spill chemicals among Deepwater Horizon disaster response and cleanup workers.

Background: Previous studies have associated oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) work with skin symptoms, but evidence is lacking on the specific exposure agents that contributed to these skin effects.

Objectives: We investigated OSRC-related exposures, including dermal exposure to specific chemical agents, in relation to acute and longer-term skin conditions among the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) OSRC workers.

Methods: At GuLF Study enrollment, workers reported duration of work, jobs performed, and skin contact with crude oil/tar, dispersants, and decontamination chemicals.

Concentrations of blood styrene and neurobehavioral function among Gulf state residents in the U.S.

Objectives: To investigate relationships between blood styrene concentrations and neurobehavioral function among US Gulf State residents.

Methods: Our study includes 328 Gulf state residents enrolled in the Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study with data on blood styrene concentrations (2012-2013) and neurobehavioral test results (2014-2016, Behavioral Assessment and Research System and trail making test). We estimated the differences in test scores by blood styrene quartiles and explored effect measure modification by smoking.

Fine particulate matter from burning oil and gas and associated neurological symptoms among Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup workers.

Burning and flaring of oil and gas following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill generated high airborne concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM). Neurological effects of PM have been previously reported, but this relationship has received limited attention in the context of oil spills. We evaluated associations between burning-related PM and prevalence of self-reported neurological symptoms during, and 1-3 years after, the DWH disaster cleanup.

Volatile hydrocarbon exposures and immune-related illnesses among Deepwater Horizon oil spill workers.

Background: Despite evidence from experimental studies linking some petroleum hydrocarbons to markers of immune suppression, limited epidemiologic research exists on this topic.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine associations of oil spill related chemicals (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and n-hexane (BTEX-H)) and total hydrocarbons (THC) with immune-related illnesses as indicators of potential immune suppression.

Methods: Subjects comprised 8601 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill clean-up and response workers who participated in a home visit (1-3 years after the DWH spill) in the Gulf Long-term Follow-up (GuLF) Study.

Residential natural hazard risk and mental health effects.

Mental health effects are frequently reported following natural disasters. However, little is known about effects of living in a hazard-prone region on mental health. We analyzed data from 9312 Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study participants who completed standardized mental health questionnaires including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (depression = score ≥10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (anxiety = score ≥10), and Primary Care PTSD Screen (PTSD = score ≥3).

Childhood and adolescent residential and farm pesticide exposures and inflammatory bowel disease incidence in a U.S. cohort of women.

Background And Aims: There are few known risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation. Use of specific pesticides has been associated with higher incidence of IBD among pesticide applicators and their spouses, but no study has examined pesticide exposure in early life, a period where the human immune system undergoes rapid changes. We evaluated pesticide use during childhood and adolescence and incidence of IBD among US women enrolled in the Sister Study.

Residential proximity to toxic metal-emitting industrial sites and toenail metal concentrations in a United States-wide prospective cohort.

Background: Industrial facilities across the United States (US) release millions of pounds of toxic chemicals, including metals. Exposure to toxic metals has been associated with adverse health outcomes, but there is limited evidence on the association between living near metal-releasing facilities and the body burden of emitted compounds.

Objective: To investigate the association between residential proximity to toxic metal-emitting industrial facilities and toenail metal concentrations and to evaluate whether associations differed by race.

Air pollution and epigenetic aging among Black and White women in the US.

Background: DNA methylation-based measures of biological aging have been associated with air pollution and may link pollutant exposures to aging-related health outcomes. However, evidence is inconsistent and there is little information for Black women.

Objective: We examined associations of ambient particulate matter <2.

Residential proximity to metal emitting industries and toenail metal concentration in the US Gulf States.

Objective: The US Gulf region is heavily reliant on metal-emitting petrochemical and manufacturing industries. We characterized the effect of residential proximity to metal-emitting sites and metal body burden in Gulf states residents with particular attention to potential differential exposure burden by race.

Methods: We measured toenail concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 413 non-smoking men from the Gulf Long-term Follow-Up Study.

Association between spill-related exposure to fine particulate matter and peripheral motor and sensory nerve function among oil spill response and cleanup workers following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Background: Burning/flaring of oil/gas during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) generated high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM). Personnel working on the water during these activities may have inhaled combustion products. Neurologic effects of PM have been reported previously but few studies have examined lasting effects following disaster exposures.

Reliability of low mass toenail samples as biomarkers of chronic metal exposure.

Background: Toenails are a promising matrix for chronic metal exposure assessment, but there are currently no standard methods for collection and analysis. Questions remain about sample mass requirements and the extent to which metals measured in this matrix are representative of chronic body burden.

Objective: This study proposes a method to maximize sample conservation for toenail metals analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Volatile Hydrocarbon Exposures and Incident Coronary Heart Disease Events: Up to Ten Years of Follow-up among Oil Spill Workers.

Background: During the 2010 () disaster, response and cleanup workers were potentially exposed to toxic volatile components of crude oil. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined exposure to individual oil spill-related chemicals in relation to cardiovascular outcomes among oil spill workers.

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the association of several spill-related chemicals [benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, -hexane (BTEX-H)] and total hydrocarbons (THC) with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events among workers enrolled in a prospective cohort.

Nontraditional Occupational Exposures to Crude Oil Combustion Disasters and Respiratory Disease Risk: A Narrative Review of Literature.

Purpose Of Review: Burning of petroleum products has been consistently associated with adverse respiratory health effects. Combustion of crude oil, specifically, produces toxic byproducts, but there have been relatively few studies of health effects. Burning of crude oil is increasingly employed as a means of mitigating environmental disasters despite the potential health risks to workers involved in clean-up efforts.

Exposure to volatile hydrocarbons and neurologic function among oil spill workers up to 6 years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Background: During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) workers were exposed to toxic volatile components of crude oil. Few studies have examined exposure to individual volatile hydrocarbon chemicals below occupational exposure limits in relation to neurologic function among OSRC workers.

Objectives: To investigate the association of several spill-related chemicals (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, n-hexane, i.

Neighborhood disadvantage and immune-related illnesses among residents living in the US Gulf States.

Purpose: Neighborhood disadvantage has been associated with increased risk for pneumonia and influenza-associated hospitalizations. Few studies, however, have investigated how neighborhood disadvantage may influence immune-related illnesses. The aim of this study was to examine the association between neighborhooddisadvantage and immune-related illnesses.

Fine particulate matter and incident coronary heart disease events up to 10 years of follow-up among Deepwater Horizon oil spill workers.

Background: During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, in-situ burning and flaring were conducted to remove oil from the water. Workers near combustion sites were potentially exposed to burning-related fine particulate matter (PM). Exposure to PM has been linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but no study has examined the relationship among oil spill workers.

Associations between airborne crude oil chemicals and symptom-based asthma.

Rationale: The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) workers were exposed to airborne total hydrocarbons (THC), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-, m-, and p-xylenes and n-hexane (BTEX-H) from crude oil and PM from burning/flaring oil and natural gas. Little is known about asthma risk among oil spill cleanup workers.

Objectives: We assessed the relationship between asthma and several oil spill-related exposures including job classes, THC, individual BTEX-H chemicals, the BTEX-H mixture, and PM using data from the Gulf Long-Term Follow-up (GuLF) Study, a prospective cohort of 24,937 cleanup workers and 7,671 nonworkers following the DWH disaster.