The Gulf Coast Health Alliance: Health Risks Related to the Macondo Spill (GC-HARMS) Study: Self-Reported Health Effects

Sharon A. Croisant, Yu-li Lin, Joseph J. Shearer, John Prochaska, Amanda Phillips-Savoy, James Gee, Daniel Jackson, Reynold A. Panettieri, Marilyn Howarth, John Sullivan, Bishop James Black, Joi Tate, Dustin Nguyen, Amber Anthony, Asim Khan, Harshica Fernando, G. A. Shakeel Ansari, Gilbert Rowe, Bret Howrey, Chantele Singleton and Cornelis Elferink
Additional contact information
Sharon A. Croisant: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Yu-li Lin: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Joseph J. Shearer: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
John Prochaska: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Amanda Phillips-Savoy: Department of Family Medicine, Louisiana State University at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
James Gee: Department of Family Medicine, Lafayette General Hospital, Lafayette, LA 70503, USA
Daniel Jackson: Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Reynold A. Panettieri: Perelman School of Medicine, Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Marilyn Howarth: Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
John Sullivan: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Bishop James Black: Center for Environmental and Economic Justice, Biloxi, MS 39531, USA
Joi Tate: Center for Environmental and Economic Justice, Biloxi, MS 39531, USA
Dustin Nguyen: Mississippi Vietnamese Fishing Community, Gulfport, MS, USA
Amber Anthony: Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Asim Khan: Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Harshica Fernando: Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
G. A. Shakeel Ansari: Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Gilbert Rowe: Texas A&M University at Galveston; Galveston, TX 77554, USA
Bret Howrey: Department of Family Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Chantele Singleton: Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Cornelis Elferink: Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) explosion in 2010 is the largest oil spill (Macondo) in U.S. history. We focused on gaining an understanding of the physical health and mental health effects attributable to the Macondo oil spill. This is a report of a cross-sectional cohort study (wave 1) to establish ‘baseline’ findings and meant to provide descriptive information to be used for a multi-wave, longitudinal study. Gulf Coast Health Alliance: health Risks related to the Macondo Spill (GC-HARMS) uses a Community-Based Participatory Research approach, thus including multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional academic partners and representatives of three communities impacted by the spill. Three research sites were selected for human sampling along the Gulf of Mexico coast including two from Mississippi and one from Louisiana, with Galveston, Texas, serving as a comparison site, given that it was not directly impacted by the spill. One hundred participants were selected from each community, representing adults, seniors and children, with approximately equal numbers of males and females in each group. Participants completed initial assessments including completion of a ‘baseline’ survey and, rigorous physical assessments. Results from wave 1 data collection reported herein reveal changes in self-reported physical health and mental health status following the oil spill, disparities in access to healthcare, and associations between mental health and emotional conditions related to displacement/unemployment. Few environmental health studies have been conducted in communities impacted by significant oil spills. Results imply potential prolonged effects on mental health and community vulnerability.

Keywords: Deepwater Horizon; oil spill; environmental health; petrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Gulf Coast (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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