ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to estimate the mental health problems and other related factors in residents that experienced the Samsung-Hebei spirits oil spill by surveying PTSD symptoms. METHOD: Trained interviewers performed direct interviews of the residents approximately 70 days after the oil spill. We investigated PTSD symptoms through PTSD Symptom Scale Interview Version (PSS-I). To determine those factors related to PTSD symptoms, the following factors were determined as part of the survey: gender, age, occupation, duration of cleanup activity, monthly income and amount of debt. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze all factors. RESULTS: Of the 318 residents investigated, 56.6% of the subjects had PTSD symptoms related to the spirits oil spill (about 70 days post spill). With regard to occupation, those subjects answering fishery (POR:3.05) and commerce (POR:4.24) as their occupations experienced higher PTSD symptoms than residents answering farming as their occupation. Residents who answered that they had debt over 10 million KRW (POR:2.61) were more vulnerable to PTSD symptoms compared to residents without debt; residents with acute physical symptoms were vulnerable (POR:5.11) to PTSD symptom compared to residents without acute physical symptoms. The results of multiple logistic analysis, including the cleanup activity, age, gender, occupation, acute physical symptoms and amount of debt in the model suggest that only cleanup activity increased PTSD symptoms. The subjects who had engaged in cleanup activities for longer periods of time had more PTSD symptoms and an additional dose-response relationship. CONCLUSION: Many residents in Samsung-Hebei spirits oil spill area had PTSD symptoms. This suggests that there were serious mental health problems among the residents, who might require specific social supports and psychiatric interventions as a result of the oil spill.
Subject(s)
Commerce , Environmental Restoration and Remediation , Fisheries , Logistic Models , Mental Health , Occupations , Petroleum , Petroleum Pollution , Stress Disorders, Post-TraumaticABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes in respiratory function associated with daily changes in particulate pollution. METHODS: A total of 105 healthy schoolchildren of fourth and fifth grade elementary school age performed peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) during 2 periods (May 14~June 15, Oct 22~Nov 23). We monitored concomitant ambient particulate matter (PM) levels during the periods. RESULTS: An elevation PM(10) level of 1 microgram/m) led to decreases in PEFR of 0.20 L/min. A 1 microgram/m3 elevation of PM(2.5) led to a decrease of 0.36 L/min in PEFR. In addition, 1 day lag was associated with PM(10) levels and PEFR changes, and PM(2.5) showed the same result. The metal levels determined at PM(10) and PM(2.5) were found to be associated with decreased respiratory function. CONCLUSIONS: An association between respiratory function and particulate pollution was observed when particulate pollutant levels were lower than the yearly average National Ambient Air Quality Standard in the Korea(50 microgram/m3).