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Community Health Impacts After a Jet Fuel Leak Contaminated a Drinking Water System: Oahu, Hawaii, November 2021
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7 2023
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Source: J Water Health. 21(7):956-971
[PDF-949.21 KB]
Details:
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Alternative Title:J Water Health
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Personal Author:
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Description:Background:
On November 20, 2021, a large petroleum leak contaminated a water source that supplied drinking water to a joint military base and civilian areas in Oahu, Hawaii.
Objectives:
Our team sought to assess the impacts of the incident on the affected population.
Methods:
We conducted an Assessment of Chemical Exposures (ACE) survey and supplemented that information with complementary data sources: (1) poison center caller records; (2) emergency department visit data; (3) a key informant questionnaire.
Results:
Of the 2,289 ACE survey participants, 86% reported experiencing at least one new or worsening symptom, 75% of which lasted at least 30 days, and 37% sought medical care. Most respondents (n=1,653, 72%) also reported new or worsening mental health symptoms and many expressed concerns about possible long-term consequences. Among symptoms that were equally observable across age groups, the proportions of children aged 0–2 years who experienced vomiting, runny nose, skin rashes, and coughing (33%, 46%, 56%, and 35%, respectively) were higher than the corresponding proportions in children aged 13–17 years (19%, 36%, 42%, and 26%, respectively), which more closely resembled the proportions found in adults (16%, 33%, 42%, and 24%, respectively). One-third of pet owners (n=409/1389, 29%) reported their pets also exhibited symptoms associated with the contaminated water. Poison center calls increased the first two weeks after the contamination, while emergency department visits increased in early December. Key informant interviews revealed themes of lack of support, mental health symptoms, and long-term health impacts as key concerns.
Discussion:
Multiple data sources were useful to describe overall community impacts. This event led to widespread exposure to petroleum products and negatively affected the health of thousands of people. Follow-up health surveys or interventions should give special consideration to longer-term physical and mental health, especially children due to their unique sensitivity to environmental exposures.
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Source:
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Pubmed ID:37515565
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC11318283
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Volume:21
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Issue:7
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