Journal Article

Exposure to Crude Oil-Related Volatile Organic Compounds Associated with Lung Function Decline in a Longitudinal Panel of Children

Noh, Su Ryeon, Ha, Mina, Kim, Jung-Ah, Jee, Young-Koo, Cho, Sung-Il, Choi, Kyung-Hwa, Cheong, Hae-Kwan, Park, Myung-Sook, Choi, Kyungho, Paek, Domyung, Kim, Ho

2022

Overview

Background: Children in the affected area were exposed to large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the Hebei Spirit oil spill accident. Objectives: We investigated the lung function loss from the exposure to VOCs in a longitudinal panel of 224 children 1, 3, and 5 years after the VOC exposure event. Methods: Atmospheric estimated concentration of total VOCs (TVOCs), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene for 4 days immediately after the accident were calculated for each village (n = 83) using a modeling technique. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) as an indicator of airway status was measured 1, 3, and 5 years after the exposure in 224 children 4~9 years of age at the exposure to the oil spill. Multiple linear regression and linear mixed models were used to evaluate the associations, with adjustment for smoking and second-hand smoke at home. Results: Among the TVOCs (geometric mean: 1319.5 mg/m3·4 d), xylene (9.4), toluene (8.5), ethylbenzene (5.2), and benzene (2.0) were dominant in the order of air concentration level. In 224 children, percent predicted FEV1 (ppFEV1), adjusted for smoking and second-hand smoke at home, was 100.7% after 1 year, 96.2% after 3 years, and 94.6% after 5 years, and the loss over the period was significant (p < 0.0001). After 1 and 3 years, TVOCs, xylene, toluene, and ethylbenzene were significantly associated with ppFEV1. After 5 years, the associations were not significant. Throughout the 5 years’ repeated measurements in the panel, TVOCs, xylene, toluene, and ethylbenzene were significantly associated with ppFEV1. Conclusions: Exposure to VOCs from the oil spill resulted in lung function loss among children, which remained significant up to 5 years after the exposure.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Age / Air Pollutants - analysis / Benzene / Benzene - analysis / Benzene Derivatives - analysis / Benzene Derivatives - toxicity / Child / Crude oil / Environmental Monitoring - methods / Humans / Hydrocarbons / Lung / Oil spills / Petroleum / Smoking / Tobacco smoke / Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Toluene / Toluene - analysis / Toluene - toxicity / VOCs / Volatile organic compounds / Volatile Organic Compounds - analysis / Volatile Organic Compounds - toxicity / Xylenes - analysis / Xylenes - toxicity