Volatile Organic Compounds and Pulmonary Function in Children: 1, 3, and 5 Years after the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill

摘要

Background: Nearby citizens were exposed to large volumes of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for four days after the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Objectives: To investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between initial exposure to VOCs in children and loss of pulmonary function 1, 3, and 5 years after the exposure event. Methods: Cumulative ambient VOC concentrations over the four days immediately after the spill, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and total VOCs (TVOCs), were measured with a modeling technique. The forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) of 224 children was assessed by spirometry at 1, 3, and 5 years after the spill. Multiple linear regression and linear mixed models were used to evaluate the associations, with adjustment for smoking. Results: The levels of VOC exposure represented, in order of volume, were as follows: xylene (mean: 11.2 mg/m3/4 d), toluene (10.1), ethylbenzene (6.2), and benzene (2.3). Percent of predicted FEV1 had significantly decreased after 1 (100.7), 3 (96.3), and 5 years (94.6). In a cross-sectional design, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and TVOCs were significantly associated with percent of predicted FEV1 after 1 and 3 years, and ethylbenzene, xylene, and TVOCs were marginally significantly associated with percent of predicted FEV1 after 5 years. In a longitudinal design, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and TVOCs were significantly associated with percent of predicted FEV1. Conclusions: Exposure to oil-derived VOCs resulted in loss of pulmonary function among children. These declines were persistent and did not reverse during the 5 years following the oil spill.