Summary: Oil spills are known to affect human health through the exposure of inherent hazardous chemicals such as para-phenols and volatile benzene. This study assessed the adverse health effects of the Gulf oil spill exposure in subjects participating in the clean-up activity along the coast of Louisiana. The study focused primarily on the link between oil spill exposure and hematologic and hepatic functions in subjects who had participated in the oil spill cleanup operation. The investigators looked at a total of 247 subjects between January 2010 and November 2012, with 117 subjects identified as exposed to the oil spill and dispersants by participating in the cleanup over the duration of three months. The unexposed control group of 130 subjects was comprised of people living at least 100 miles away from the Gulf coast of Louisiana.
Project Dates: Jan 2010 – Nov 2012
Lead Agency: The University Cancer and Diagnostic Centers, Houston, TX
Contact: Mark A. D’Andrea, MD, FACRO, and G. Kesava Reddy, PhD, MHA
Focus Area(s): Health
State(s): Louisiana
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