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. 2017 Sep 15;125(9):097015. doi: 10.1289/EHP1677

Table 4.

Symptoms within 30 days of study enrollment associated with dispersant exposure (GuLF STUDY, 2011–2013).

Symptom Exposed [n (%)] Unexposed [n (%)] aPR (95% CI)a
Cougha 594 (27%) 3,896 (15%) 1.03 (0.96, 1.11)
Wheezea 479 (22%) 2,400 (9%) 1.16 (1.06, 1.26)
Tightness in chesta 337 (16%) 1,455 (6%) 1.30 (1.16, 1.46)
Shortness of breatha 434 (20%) 2,129 (8%) 1.15 (1.06, 1.26)
Burning in nose, throat, lungsa 246 (11%) 1,005 (4%) 1.55 (1.34, 1.80)
Burning eyesc 363 (17%) 1,699 (6%) 1.44 (1.28, 1.61)
Itching eyesc 482 (22%) 2,758 (11%) 1.24 (1.12, 1.36)
Skin irritationd 207 (21%) 8,891 (35%) 0.84 (0.74, 0.95)

Note: aPR, adjusted prevalence ratio; CI, confidence interval.

a

All models adjusted for gender, age, race, education, unemployment, disability, financial and perceived stress. Skin irritation models further adjusted for contact with oil/tar, contact with cleaning chemicals, and dispersant/oil interaction. Respiratory and eye irritation models at spill further adjusted for smoking, residential proximity to oil spill, level of oil exposure (total hydrocarbons, THC), use of decontamination chemicals, and preexisting lung disease (respiratory models).

b

n=28,183 (2,163 exposed, 26,020 unexposed).

c

n=28,363 (2,181 exposed, 26,182 unexposed).

d

n=26,249 (1,001 exposed, 25,248 unexposed).