Respiratory Effects of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill on Children in Taean, Korea

PURPOSE: The oil spill from the Heibei Spirit in December 2007 contaminated the Yellow Coast of South Korea. We evaluated the respiratory effects of that spill on children who lived along the Yellow Coast. METHODS: Of 662 children living in the area exposed to the oil spill, 436 (65.9%) were enrolled as subjects. All subjects completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. A health examination, including a skin prick test, pulmonary function test, and methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT), was administered. The children were assigned to two groups: those who lived close to the oil spill area and those who lived far from the oil spill area. RESULTS: The children who lived close to the oil spill area showed a significantly lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), an increased prevalence of 'asthma ever' (based on a questionnaire), and 'airway hyperresponsiveness' (based on the MBPT) than those who lived far from the oil spill area (FEV1; P=0.011, prevalence of 'asthma ever' based on a questionnaire; P=0.005, prevalence of 'airway hyperresponsiveness' based on the MBPT; P=0.001). The onset of wheezing after the oil spill was significantly higher in children who lived close to the oil spill area than in those who lived far from the oil spill area among the 'wheeze ever' group (P=0.002). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, male sex, family history of asthma, and residence near the oil spill area were significant risk factors for asthma (sex [male/female]: odds ratio [OR], 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-4.91; family history of asthma [No/Yes]: OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.83-7.75; exposure group [low/high]; OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.27-4.65). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that exposure to an oil spill is a risk factor for asthma in children.

Respiratory Effects of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill on Children in Taean, Korea

PURPOSE: The oil spill from the Heibei Spirit in December 2007 contaminated the Yellow Coast of South Korea. We evaluated the respiratory effects of that spill on children who lived along the Yellow Coast. METHODS: Of 662 children living in the area exposed to the oil spill, 436 (65.9%) were enrolled as subjects. All subjects completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. A health examination, including a skin prick test, pulmonary function test, and methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT), was administered. The children were assigned to two groups: those who lived close to the oil spill area and those who lived far from the oil spill area. RESULTS: The children who lived close to the oil spill area showed a significantly lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), an increased prevalence of 'asthma ever' (based on a questionnaire), and 'airway hyperresponsiveness' (based on the MBPT) than those who lived far from the oil spill area (FEV1; P=0.011, prevalence of 'asthma ever' based on a questionnaire; P=0.005, prevalence of 'airway hyperresponsiveness' based on the MBPT; P=0.001). The onset of wheezing after the oil spill was significantly higher in children who lived close to the oil spill area than in those who lived far from the oil spill area among the 'wheeze ever' group (P=0.002). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, male sex, family history of asthma, and residence near the oil spill area were significant risk factors for asthma (sex [male/female]: odds ratio [OR], 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-4.91; family history of asthma [No/Yes]: OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.83-7.75; exposure group [low/high]; OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.27-4.65). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that exposure to an oil spill is a risk factor for asthma in children.

Acute Health Effects of the Hebei Oil Spill on the Residents of Taean, Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: On December 7, 2007, the Hebei Spirit oil tanker spilled out 12,547 kl of crude oil on the Yellow Sea 10 km away from the cost of Taean Province, Korea. As the coastline has been contaminated, local residents have been exposed to crude oil. Because the residents were showing many symptoms, we investigated the acute health effects of this oil spill on them. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study consisting of the heavy and moderately oil soaked area in Taean and the lightly oil soaked area in Seocheon. Ten seashore villages were selected from each area, and 10 male and female adults were selected from each village. We interviewed the subjects using a structured questionnaire on the characteristics of residents, the cleanup activities, the perception of oil hazard, depression and anxiety, and the physical symptoms. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The logistic regression model was adjusted for age, gender, education, smoking, the perception of oil hazard and anxiousness. RESULTS: The more highly contaminated the area, the more likely it was for residents to be engaged in cleanup activities and have a greater chance of exposure to oil. The indexes of anxiety and depression were higher in the heavy and moderately oil soaked areas. The increased risks of headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, tingling of limb, hot flushing, sore throat, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, itchy skin, rash, and sore eyes were significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that exposure to crude oil is associated with various acute physical symptoms. Long-term investigation is required to monitor the residents' health.

Hebei Spirit oil spill exposure and acute neuropsychiatric effects on residents participating in clean-up work / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: Hebei Spirit oil spill accident has brought about the worst coastal oil contamination in Korean history. Following the accident, residents and volunteers, number exceeding a million from nationwide, were exposed to chemicals from the crude oil itself and dispersants, including volatility organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals through the clean-up works over months. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of clean-up work on the peripheral nerve function and psychologic status of the residents after a prolonged exposure to clean-up work after the oil spill exposure. METHODS: We performed a study on the residents of Jango-do Island, Chungnam, on 5 and 12 January 2008, six to eight weeks after the accident. A questionnaire on general characteristics, Korean Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), color vision test (Lanthony desaturated D-15 test), and vibration perception threshold test were done. Among 210 residents with 30 years or older, 63 (30%) finished questionnaires and completed at least one among K-BDI, color vision test, or vibration perception threshold test. Descriptive statistics was done on the residents. RESULTS: The residents participated in clean-up work for average 20 days, max 30 days, during 6 weeks following the accident. Average work hours were 7.4 hours per day, max 10 hours. On K-BDI, 21 (33.3%) had a severe depressive state. Mean color confusion index was 1.29 in the right and 1.20 in the left. Mean vibration perception threshold was 3.69 VU (right) and 3.55 VU (left), respectively. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: Compared to literature report, the residents had higher depression scale. Color vision threshold was not higher compared to general population near an industrial complex. Vibration perception threshold was significantly higher than the residents of similar age living near an abandoned mine in southern coastal area only in the age group of forties. These suggests there is some evidence of neuropsychiatric effect related to oil cleaning work and a mid- and long-term study of the oil exposure health effects with continuous monitoring should be done for the exposed residents in the affected area.

Functional Change of the Endothelial Cells of the Umbilical Vein Following Anoxia and Reoxygenation

BACKGROUND: Successful revascularization and reperfusion of ischemia are associated with high systemic complication rates and severe tissue injuries. Such complications with nonfunction are primarily related to the injuries that occur in the reperfusion process, but to date the exact mechanism is not clear. Anoxia or hypoxia and reoxygenation are principal components of ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) and have distinctive effects on the tissue. In the I/R injury model, endothelial cell injury is known to be an initial event, the microvasculature is highly sensitive, and the hyperadhesiveness of leukocytes to endothelial cells contributes to I/R-induced tissue injury. METHODS: Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups: a control group without any treatment, an anoxia group (A-G) treated with anoxic air (93% N2, 5% CO2, 2% H2) for 20 minutes, reoxygenation group (RO-G) treated with 100% O2 for 90 minutes, and a superoxide dismutase (SOD) group treated with SOD just before reoxygenation. Endothelial cells were isolated from human umbilical vein and cultured in an M-199 medium. Their purity was determined by immunofluorescent staining of factor VIII related antigen, phase-contrast, and scanning electron microscopy. Using a microelectrode, radio immunoassay, and Emzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we studied the time-course changes of the levels of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) of the 4 groups. RESULTS: 1) Endothelial cell detachment was found in the A-G and more detachment with lysis was found in the RO-G but no significant detachment and lysis were noted in the SOD group. 2) The concentration of NO in the A-G was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The NO concentration of the RO-G reached its highest level of 4809.01+/-444.69 nM/1x10(5) cells/ml at 30 minutes(P<0.005) and decreased after that. 3) The concentration of PGI2 in the A-G was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The PGI2 concentration of the RO-G reached its highest level of 64.25+/-2.39 pg/1x10(5) cells/ml at 45 minutes (P<0.005) and decreased after that. 4) The concentration of ICAM-1 in the A-G was higher than that of the control group (P<0.005). The ICAM-1 concentration of the RO-G reached its highest level of 7.18+/-0.62 ng/1x105 cells/ml at 15 minutes (P<0.005), then decreased to its lowest level of 2.53+/-0.31 ng/1x105 cells/ml at 60 minutes, but after 75 minutes increased again. 5) The concentration of VCAM in the A-G was higher than that of the control group (P<0.005). The VCAM concentration of the RO-G reached its highest level of 5.50+/-0.55 ng/1x10(5) cells/ml at 15 minutes (P<0.05), then decreased to its lowest level of 3.15+/-0.40 ng/1x10(5) cells/ml at 45 minutes, but after 60 minutes increased again. 6) The SOD group showed little change of NO, PGI2, ICAM-1, and VCAM concentration compared with both the A-G and the RO-G. CONCLUSION: This study showed that cell destruction in the reoxygenation group was more severe than that in the anoxia group and that the endothelial cell function of the reoxygenation group decreased signi ficantly compared with that of the anoxia group. In the anoxia and the reoxygenation groups, the levels of the two adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM increased faster than those of NO and PGI2 and the change in the level of ICAM-1 was more sensitive than that (in the level) of VCAM. In reoxygenation group, SOD treatment could inhibit the changes in the levels of NO, PGI2, ICAM-1, and VCAM.

Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Report of two cases

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignant endocrine tumor which accounts for about 0.05% to 0.2% of all carcinomas. Three clinical patterns can be encountered. In 30% of the cases, a mass syndrome without any clinical evidence of hypersecretion is presented as abdominal pain, a palpable abdominal mass, abdominal distension, and weight loss. In 60% of the cases, an overt clinical syndrome of hypersecretion is of almost purely hypercortisolism in 30% of such cases, vilirization in 22%, feminization in 10%, hyperaldosteronism in 2.5%, and a mixed secretion in 35%. In the remaining 10% of the cases, an adrenal `incidentaloma' is found incidentally during evaluation of the other disease. About 70% to 80% of patients are diagnosed with an advanced stage (III or IV) and metastasis has occured in 20% to 40% of the patients at the time of presentation. Early surgery an with adrenalectomy is the only means of cure. The prognosis is poor with a 5-years survival rate of 16% to 34% due to initial diagnosis at an advanced stage. Recently, we experienced two cases of adrenocortical carcinomas. In case I, a 62-year-old female patient presented with a clinical syndrome of hypercortisolism and had an extensive local invasion of stage IV; in case II, a 49-year-old male patient complained of abdominal pain and distension without any clinical syndrome of hypersecretion and had stage IV liver metastasis.