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. 2022 Jan:158:106937.
doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106937. Epub 2021 Oct 20.

Acute and longer-term cardiovascular conditions in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Coast Guard Cohort

Hristina Denic-Roberts  1 , Nicole Rowley  2 , Mark C Haigney  3 , Kate Christenbury  4 , John Barrett  5 , Dana L Thomas  6 , Lawrence S Engel  7 , Jennifer A Rusiecki  8
Affiliations

Acute and longer-term cardiovascular conditions in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Coast Guard Cohort

Hristina Denic-Roberts et al. Environ Int. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: In 2010, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) led a clean-up response to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. Human studies evaluating acute and longer-term cardiovascular conditions associated with oil spill-related exposures are sparse. Thus, we aimed to investigate prevalent and incident cardiovascular symptoms/conditions in the DHW Oil Spill Coast Guard Cohort.

Methods: Self-reported oil spill exposures and cardiovascular symptoms were ascertained from post-deployment surveys (n = 4,885). For all active-duty cohort members (n = 45,193), prospective cardiovascular outcomes were classified via International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition from military health encounter records up to 5.5 years post-DWH. We used log-binomial regression to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the cross-sectional analyses and Cox Proportional Hazards regression to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% CIs for incident cardiovascular diagnoses during 2010-2015 and stratifying by earlier (2010-2012) and later (2013-2015) time periods.

Results: Prevalence of chest pain was associated with increasing levels of crude oil exposure via inhalation (aPRhigh vs. none = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.16-3.42, p-trend = 0.03) and direct skin contact (aPRhigh vs. none = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.30-5.16, p-trend = 0.03). Similar associations were observed for sudden heartbeat changes and for being in the vicinity of burning oil exposure. In prospective analyses, responders (vs. non-responders) had an elevated risk for mitral valve disorders during 2013-2015 (aHR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.15-3.90). Responders reporting ever (vs. never) crude oil inhalation exposure were at increased risk for essential hypertension, particularly benign essential hypertension during 2010-2012 (aHR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.08-3.69). Responders with crude oil inhalation exposure also had an elevated risk for palpitations during 2013-2015 (aHR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.36-4.74). Cardiovascular symptoms/conditions aPR and aHR estimates were generally stronger among responders reporting exposure to both crude oil and oil dispersants than among those reporting neither.

Conclusions: In this large study of the DWH oil spill USCG responders, self-reported spill clean-up exposures were associated with acute and longer-term cardiovascular symptoms/conditions.

Keywords: Cardiovascular health; Crude oil; Deepwater Horizon; Dispersants; Oil Spill; Responder.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest

The authors report no competing interests.

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