The Worcester water incident, UK: bias in self reported symptoms to an emergency helpline

摘要

In April 1994, chemical contamination of the River Severn affected the water supply to a Population of 160 000 in Worcestershire. During the incident the health authority free Phone emergency helpline received 106 com- Plaints of symptoms attributed to consumption Of contaminated water. These complaints were Important as they alerted the emergency Incident team to the possibility of illness being Associated with the chemical contamination, Gave an early indication of ht possible severity Of illness, and also provisionally identified a Register of cases.