Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Our objective was to examine and evaluate the psychological health of the residents of Taean during the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit (HS) oil spill and to review some factors associated with the results. METHODS: A community survey of 71 men and women was conducted 8 weeks after the HS oil spill. Questionnaires used were the PWI (Psychological Well-being Index) scale for psychosocial distress, the CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression) scale for depressive symptoms, and a questionnaire created to assess suicidal impulses. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of high-risk psychosocial distress among the study group was 64.2%. The percentages of respondents with scores on the CES-D Scale above 16 and above 21 were 77.6% and 62.7%, respectively. The percentage of respondents categorized as having suicidal impulses was 18.3%. When compared with unexposed groups in the general population taken from various sources, the residents of Taean were 6.5 times as likely to have high stress and 9.4-9.7 times as likely to be depressed. No significant difference in the rate of suicidal impulse was found between the residents of Taean and the general population. Factors associated with high stress, depression, and suicidal impulses were age, a change in income, educational level, number of days working on the cleanup, and positive responses to questions about "affected daily activity" and "hospital visit due to work on cleanup." CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the HS oil spill had a significant impact on the psychological health of residents of Taean, but the comparability of the unexposed groups is a limitation of the study.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
- Chemical exposure from the Hebei spirit oil spill accident and its long-term effects on mental health
Lita Kim, Da-An Huh, Min-Sung Kang, Kangyeon Park, Jiyoun Lee, Se Hyun Hwang, Hyeon Jeong Choi, Woohyun Lim, Kyong Whan Moon, Yong-Jin Lee
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.2024; 284: 116938. CrossRef - Haematological, renal, and hepatic function changes among Rayong oil spill clean-up workers: a longitudinal study
Benjamin Atta Owusu, Apiradee Lim, Chanthip Intawong, Sunthorn Rheanpumikankit, Saijit Suksri, Thammasin Ingviya
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health.2022; 95(7): 1481. CrossRef - Risk factors for acute mental health symptoms and tobacco initiation in Coast Guard Responders to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Jeanny H. Wang, Hristina Denic‐Roberts, Jeffrey L. Goodie, Dana L. Thomas, Lawrence S. Engel, Jennifer A. Rusiecki
Journal of Traumatic Stress.2022; 35(4): 1099. CrossRef - Coping with oil spills: oil exposure and anxiety among residents of Gulf Coast states after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Zachary E. Goldman, John A. Kaufman, J. Danielle Sharpe, Amy F. Wolkin, Matthew O. Gribble
UCL Open Environment.2022;[Epub] CrossRef - Who has sustained psychological symptoms nine years after the Hebei Spirit oil spill?: The Health Effect Research on Hebei Spirit oil spill (HEROS) study
Kyung-Hwa Choi, Myung-Sook Park, Myung Ho Lim, Jong-Il Hur, Su Ryeon Noh, Woo-Chul Jeong, Hae-Kwan Cheong, Mina Ha
Journal of Environmental Management.2021; 294: 112936. CrossRef - The Long-Term Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Women’s Depression and Mental Distress
Ariane Lisann Rung, Evrim Oral, Elizabeth Fontham, Daniel J. Harrington, Edward J. Trapido, Edward S. Peters
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.2019; 13(02): 183. CrossRef - Factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in students who survived the Sewol ferry disaster in South Korea
Jin-Won Noh, Kyoung-Beom Kim, Yejin Lee, Ju Hyun Lee, Eun Ji Kim, So Hee Lee
Journal of Affective Disorders.2019; 249: 223. CrossRef - Developing Large-Scale Research in Response to an Oil Spill Disaster: a Case Study
Richard K. Kwok, Aubrey K. Miller, Kaitlyn B. Gam, Matthew D. Curry, Steven K. Ramsey, Aaron Blair, Lawrence S. Engel, Dale P. Sandler
Current Environmental Health Reports.2019; 6(3): 174. CrossRef - Health effect research on Hebei Spirit Oil Spill (HEROS) in Korea: a cohort profile
Myung Sook Park, Kyung-Hwa Choi, Seung-Hwa Lee, Jong-Il Hur, Su Ryeon Noh, Woo-Chul Jeong, Hae-Kwan Cheong, Mina Ha
BMJ Open.2019; 9(8): e026740. CrossRef - Cancer Incidence Trend in the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Area, from 1999 to 2014: An Ecological Study
Kyung-Hwa Choi, Myung-Sook Park, Mina Ha, Jong-Il Hur, Hae-Kwan Cheong
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2018; 15(5): 1006. CrossRef - Factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among community volunteers during the Sewol ferry disaster in Korea
Ju-Yeon Lee, Sung-Wan Kim, Kyung-Yeol Bae, Jae-Min Kim, Il-Seon Shin, Jin-Sang Yoon
Comprehensive Psychiatry.2017; 77: 38. CrossRef - Psychological Vulnerability of Residents of Communities Affected by the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill
Kyung-Hwa Choi, Myung-Ho Lim, Mina Ha, Jung Nam Sohn, Jong-Won Kang, Young-Hyun Choi, Hae-Kwan Cheong
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.2016; 10(1): 51. CrossRef - Effects of exposure to oil spills on human health: Updated review
Blanca Laffon, Eduardo Pásaro, Vanessa Valdiglesias
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B.2016; 19(3-4): 105. CrossRef - Determinants of Poor Self-rated Health in Korean Adults With Diabetes
Hwi-Won Lee, Minkyo Song, Jae Jeong Yang, Daehee Kang
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.2015; 48(6): 287. CrossRef - Community mental health status six months after the Sewol ferry disaster in Ansan, Korea
Hee Jung Yang, Hae Kwan Cheong, Bo Youl Choi, Min-Ho Shin, Hyeon Woo Yim, Dong-Hyun Kim, Gawon Kim, Soon Young Lee
Epidemiology and Health.2015; 37: e2015046. CrossRef - Environmental and ecological effects and recoveries after five years of the Hebei Spirit oil spill, Taean, Korea
Seongjin Hong, Jong Seong Khim, Jongseong Ryu, Seong-Gil Kang, Won Joon Shim, Un Hyuk Yim
Ocean & Coastal Management.2014; 102: 522. CrossRef - Crude Oil Spill Exposure and Human Health Risks
Mark A. D'Andrea, G. Kesava Reddy
Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine.2014; 56(10): 1029. CrossRef - Children's Mental Health in the Area Affected by the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Accident
Mina Ha, Woo-Chul Jeong, Myungho Lim, Hojang Kwon, Yeyong Choi, Seung-Jin Yoo, Su Ryun Noh, Hae-Kwan Cheong
Environmental Health and Toxicology.2013; 28: e2013010. CrossRef - Burden of disease attributable to the Hebei Spirit oil spill in Taean, Korea
Young-Min Kim, Jae-Hyun Park, Kyusik Choi, Su Ryeon Noh, Young-Hyun Choi, Hae-Kwan Cheong
BMJ Open.2013; 3(9): e003334. CrossRef - Changes of Eating Habits of the Residents of Taean, Korea after the Herbei Oil Spill Accident Based on Focus Group Interviews
Ji Hyun Park, Sung Ok Kwon, Woo Cheol Jeong, Jong Il Huh, Se-Young Oh
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition.2011; 16(4): 466. CrossRef - The Adverse Health Effects of Oil Spills: A Review of the Literature and a Framework for Medically Evaluating Exposed Individuals
Barry S. Levy, William J. Nassetta
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health.2011; 17(2): 161. CrossRef - Acute Health Effects of the Hebei Oil Spill on the Residents of Taean, Korea
Cheol-Heon Lee, Young-A Kang, Kyu-Jin Chang, Chang-Hoon Kim, Jong-Il Hur, Jae-Youn Kim, Jong-Koo Lee
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.2010; 43(2): 166. CrossRef - The Distinction of Cleanup Works of Hebei Spirit Oil Spill in Peak Expiratory Flow between Pre-works and Post-works
Im-Ju Kang, Sung-Youn Choi, Jae-Eun Lee, Mi-Hye Seo, Byoung-Kwon Ghim
Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2009; 30(11): 848. CrossRef