Article
Environmental Sciences
Dazhe Chen, Emily J. Werder, Patricia A. Stewart, Mark R. Stenzel, Fredric E. Gerr, Kaitlyn G. Lawrence, Caroline P. Groth, Tran B. Huynh, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, Sudipto Banerjee, W. Braxton Jackson II, Kate Christenbury, Richard K. Kwok, Dale P. Sandler, Lawrence S. Engel
Summary: During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) workers were exposed to toxic volatile components of crude oil. This study found that there were no adverse effects of crude oil exposure on neurological function among the overall study population. However, higher exposures to volatile components of crude oil were associated with modest deficits in neurologic function among OSRC workers who were age 50 years or older at study enrollment.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
C. H. Ainsworth, E. P. Chassignet, D. French-McCay, C. J. Beegle-Krause, I. Berenshtein, J. Englehardt, T. Fiddaman, H. Huang, M. Huettel, D. Justic, V. H. Kourafalou, Y. Liu, C. Mauritzen, S. Murawski, S. Morey, T. Ozgokmen, C. B. Paris, J. Ruzicka, S. Saul, J. Shepherd, S. Socolofsky, H. Solo Gabriele, T. Sutton, R. H. Weisberg, C. Wilson, L. Zheng, Y. Zheng
Summary: The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GOMRI) has conducted in-depth studies on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill from various perspectives and recently assessed the program's accomplishments. By compiling 330 published applications and focusing on modeling efforts, GOMRI has made significant advancements in integrating diverse disciplines and domains. Various modeling tools have been utilized, with a focus on circulation models coupled with other environmental factors to track the fate of oil and its impact on ecosystems and human health.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dazhe Chen, Kaitlyn G. Lawrence, Gregory C. Pratt, Mark R. Stenzel, Patricia A. Stewart, Caroline P. Groth, Sudipto Banerjee, Kate Christenbury, Matthew D. Curry, W. Braxton Jackson, Richard K. Kwok, Aaron Blair, Lawrence S. Engel, Dale P. Sandler
Summary: This study investigates the association between exposure to PM2.5 from controlled burning during the DWH disaster and decreased lung function. The results show that workers with higher cumulative PM2.5 exposure have significantly lower forced expiratory volume and forced expiratory volume to forced vital capacity ratio compared to those not involved in burning.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dazhe Chen, Dale P. Sandler, Alexander P. Keil, Gerardo Heiss, Eric A. Whitsel, Gregory C. Pratt, Patricia A. Stewart, Mark R. Stenzel, Caroline P. Groth, Sudipto Banerjee, Tran B. Huynh, Jessie K. Edwards, W. Braxton Jackson II, Joseph Engeda, Richard K. Kwok, Emily J. Werder, Kaitlyn G. Lawrence, Lawrence S. Engel
Summary: This study investigated the association between occupational exposure to PM2.5 from the burning/flaring of oil/gas and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) among oil spill workers. It found that workers with higher levels of exposure to PM2.5 had an increased risk of CHD.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cynthia R. Smith, Teresa K. Rowles, Forrest M. Gomez, Marina Ivancic, Kathleen M. Colegrove, Ryan Takeshita, Forrest I. Townsend, Eric S. Zolman, Jeanine S. Morey, Veronica Cendejas, Jennifer M. Meegan, Whitney Musser, Todd R. Speakman, Ashley Barratclough, Randall S. Wells, Lori H. Schwacke
Summary: The Deepwater Horizon disaster had a significant impact on the lung health of common bottlenose dolphins in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The dolphins living within the oil spill footprint showed a higher prevalence of moderate to severe lung disease compared to the dolphins in the uncontaminated area. The presence of lung disease remained persistent and potentially worsened over the years after the spill.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marieh Arekhi, Leigh G. Terry, Gerald F. John, T. Prabhakar Clement
Summary: This study investigated the long-term fate of three groups of petroleum biomarker compounds in Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill residues collected from Alabama beaches over a 10-year period. The results showed that some compounds degraded over time, while others remained recalcitrant. Despite some degradation, the relative diagnostic ratios of the biomarkers remained stable over the 10-year period, providing valuable insights for future studies on the long-term environmental impacts of oil spill residues.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robyn N. Conmy, Alexander Hall, Devi Sundaravadivelu, Blake A. Schaeffer, Andrew R. Murray
Summary: Tracking the subsea oil plume during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill was conducted using both in situ fluorescence and discrete sample chemical analyses. Discrete samples provided a coarse picture of the oil plume footprint, while in situ fluorescence data improved the resolution. Through analysis of millions of continuous data points, fluorescence was found to serve as a proxy for BTEX concentration.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hristina Denic-Roberts, Lawrence S. Engel, Jeanine M. Buchanich, Rachel G. Miller, Evelyn O. Talbott, Dana L. Thomas, Glen A. Cook, Tina Costacou, Jennifer A. Rusiecki
Summary: In a study of USCG responders to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, it was found that self-reported oil spill cleanup exposures were associated with an increased risk of longer-term neurological conditions. Responders had a lower risk of headache, syncope and collapse, and disturbance of skin sensation compared to non-responders. However, responders who reported crude oil inhalation exposure had an increased risk of headaches, migraines, and other neurological conditions such as mononeuritis and tinnitus.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Uta Passow, Edward B. Overton
Summary: The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was the largest and deepest oil accident in US waters, with significant impacts on the marine ecosystem. The released oil underwent various mechanisms, including biodegradation, to transform and disperse, with some sedimenting onto the seafloor. Further research efforts have greatly increased our understanding of the fate of spilled oil, focusing on factors such as photooxidation, microbial communities, and marine oil snow formation.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL 13, 2021
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jennifer A. Rusiecki, Hristina Denic-Roberts, Dana L. Thomas, Jacob Collen, John Barrett, Kate Christenbury, Lawrence S. Engel
Summary: The study found that participation in oil spill clean-up actions was associated with moderately increased risk for longer term respiratory conditions among active duty Coast Guard personnel.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Demography
Tim Slack, Rhiannon A. Kroeger, Samuel Stroope, Kathryn Sweet Keating, Jonathan Sury, Jeremy Brooks, Thomas Chandler, Jaishree Beedasy
Summary: The study uses data from the Resilient Children, Youth, and Communities study to examine the impact of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill on children's health trajectories in South Louisiana. Physical contact and job/income loss due to DHOS exposure negatively influenced initial child health, with the effects of physical exposure fading over time while job/income loss effects persisted. This research contributes to understanding the interplay between disasters, resilience, vulnerability, and socioeconomic status in shaping health outcomes for children.
POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Demography
Samuel Stroope, Tim Slack, Rhiannon A. Kroeger, Kathryn Sweet Keating, Jaishree Beedasy, Jonathan J. Sury, Jeremy Brooks, Thomas Chandler
Summary: The study found that fishing industry employment had a negative effect on child health compared to other industries, with both economic and physical exposures to the oil spill playing a mediating role. Economic exposure was found to mediate a larger share (49.3%) of the relationship compared to physical exposure (40.5%), highlighting the importance of social determinants of health in disasters and child vulnerability.
POPULATION RESEARCH AND POLICY REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Deborah P. French-McCay, Malcolm L. Spaulding, Deborah Crowley, Daniel Mendelsohn, Jeremy Fontenault, Matthew Horn
Summary: Modeling was used to analyze the trajectory and fate of oil released during the Deepwater Horizon blowout, with results closely matching estimates from remote sensing data, indicating reliability in evaluating environmental exposure in the water column and at the water surface.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Deborah P. French-McCay, Hilary Robinson, Michael Bock, Deborah Crowley, Paul Schuler, Jill J. Rowe
Summary: This study examines the effectiveness of subsea dispersant injection (SSDI) during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and evaluates the potential alternatives if dispersants were not used or used more aggressively. The results show that the actual use of SSDI reduced risk to varying degrees, but more effective use of dispersants could have significantly reduced exposures and relative risks across the ecosystem.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edward B. Overton, Puspa L. Adhikari, Jagos R. Radovic, Uta Passow
Summary: The initial bulk and compound specific composition of the liquid oil spilled during the Deepwater Horizon disaster and the changes in its composition due to weathering are described in this paper. The study highlights the different types of hydrocarbon compounds and their levels of degradation in various environmental compartments.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mark R. Stenzel, Susan F. Arnold, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, Richard K. Kwok, Lawrence S. Engel, Dale P. Sandler, Patricia A. Stewart
Summary: The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling unit on April 20, 2010 led to a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which was subsequently cleaned up using chemical dispersants. The study investigated the exposure of workers to these dispersants, with results indicating that exposure to 2-BE may have exceeded limits for peak exposures in certain conditions.
ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Danielle S. Chun, Blanaid Hicks, Sharon Peacock Hinton, Michele Jonsson Funk, Kyna Gooden, Alexander P. Keil, Hung-Jui Tan, Til Sturmer, Jennifer L. Lund
Summary: This study found that different approaches to handling death resulted in different estimates of adherence and persistence in patients with metastatic disease. Future studies should explicitly report the proportion of patient deaths over time and explore appropriate methods to account for death as a competing risk.
CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY BIOMARKERS & PREVENTION
(2022)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rachael K. Ross, Alexander P. Keil, Stephen R. Cole, Jessie K. Edwards, Jeffrey S. A. Stringer
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Alexander P. Keil, Jessie P. Buckley, Katie M. O'Brien, Kelly K. Ferguson, Alexandra J. White
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dazhe Chen, Dale P. Sandler, Alexander P. Keil, Gerardo Heiss, Eric A. Whitsel, Gregory C. Pratt, Patricia A. Stewart, Mark R. Stenzel, Caroline P. Groth, Sudipto Banerjee, Tran B. Huynh, Jessie K. Edwards, W. Braxton Jackson II, Joseph Engeda, Richard K. Kwok, Emily J. Werder, Kaitlyn G. Lawrence, Lawrence S. Engel
Summary: This study investigated the association between occupational exposure to PM2.5 from the burning/flaring of oil/gas and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) among oil spill workers. It found that workers with higher levels of exposure to PM2.5 had an increased risk of CHD.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Morgan Miller Richey, Yvonne Golightly, Stephen William Marshall, Wendy Novicoff, Alexander Keil, Maryalice Nocera, David B. Richardson
Summary: This study conducted in North Carolina found that older workers have a higher risk of fatal occupational injury. The research results showed that the rate of fatal occupational injury among older workers did not significantly decrease before and after the economic recession.
OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Audrey Renson, Michael G. Hudgens, Alexander P. Keil, Paul N. Zivich, Allison E. Aiello
Summary: This article examines sustained interventions in public health and medicine and proposes a method for evaluating population effects. The method is validated through simulation studies and applied to estimate the effect of a stay-at-home order on all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dazhe Chen, Dale P. Sandler, Alexander P. Keil, Gerardo Heiss, Eric A. Whitsel, Jessie K. Edwards, Patricia A. Stewart, Mark R. Stenzel, Caroline P. Groth, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, Sudipto Banerjee, Tran B. Huynh, W. Braxton Jackson II, Aaron Blair, Kaitlyn G. Lawrence, Richard K. Kwok, Lawrence S. Engel
Summary: This study investigated the association between exposure to certain chemicals in crude oil and the risk of coronary heart disease among oil spill workers. The results showed that higher exposures to these chemicals were associated with modest increases in the risk of coronary heart disease, but no exposure-response trends were observed.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kieran Blaikie, Jerzy Eisenberg-Guyot, Sarah B. B. Andrea, Shanise Owens, Anita Minh, Alexander P. P. Keil, Anjum Hajat
Summary: In the United States, there is an increasing inequity in mental distress between those with different levels of education. Employment quality, as a multidimensional construct, may play a mediating role in this inequity. However, no study has investigated the extent of this mediation and its variations across racial and gender groups in the United States.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amber M. Hall, Amanda M. Ramos, Samantha SM. Drover, Giehae Choi, Alexander P. Keil, David B. Richardson, Chantel L. Martin, Andrew F. Olshan, Gro D. Villanger, Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud, Pal Zeiner, Kristin R. overgaard, Amrit K. Sakhi, Cathrine Thomsen, Heidi Aase, Stephanie M. Engel
Summary: This study found a modest increased odds of preschool ADHD with higher DnBP and BDCIPP exposure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Josee M. Dussault, Chifundo Zimba, Harriet E. Akello, Melissa Stockton, Sherika N. Hill, Allison Aiello, Alexander W. Keil, Bradley Gaynes, Michael Udedi, Brian Pence
Summary: While research on mental health stigma in Malawi is lacking, studies in other contexts suggest that stigma is a barrier to mental health treatment and recovery. This study analyzed the role of treatment-related stigma in depression care in Malawi and found that high anticipated treatment stigma was associated with a lower probability of achieving depression remission at the 3-month mark.
Article
Environmental Sciences
John Volckens, Erin N. Haynes, Sharon P. Croisant, Yuxia Cui, Nicole A. Errett, Heather F. Henry, Jennifer A. Horney, Richard K. Kwok, Sheryl Magzamen, Ana G. Rappold, Lingamanaidu Ravichandran, Les Reinlib, Patrick H. Ryan, Daniel T. Shaughnessy
Summary: This commentary discusses the lack of research on the nature and effects of disasters on human health and the challenges in developing cost-effective sensors for exposure assessment. The panel of experts highlights the need for scalable, reliable, and versatile sensor technologies, as well as renewed efforts in support of disaster research facilitation, collaboration, and preparedness.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christina L. Norris, Dale P. Sandler, Gregory C. Pratt, Mark R. Stenzel, Patricia A. Stewart, W. Braxton Jackson, Fredric E. Gerr, Caroline Groth, Sudipto Banerjee, Kaitlyn G. Lawrence, Richard K. Kwok, Emily J. Werder, Lawrence S. Engel
Summary: Burning/flaring of oil/gas during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill generated high concentrations of PM2.5. We assessed the relationship between exposure to PM2.5 and sensory and motor nerve function among OSRC workers and found no strong evidence of associations, but a suggestion of impairment based on single leg stance.
JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alexander P. Keil, Sabrina Zadrozny, Jessie K. Edwards
Summary: Multi-level models are used to model data using multiple levels of information. This review examines how multi-level models can be used for causal inference with individual level exposures. The review clarifies and synthesizes complex ideas in the literature and discusses how multi-level models can relax some identifying conditions of causal inference. However, there are gaps in the literature on causal inference with multi-level models, but some published approaches are provided for further guidance. Practical advice is given on when to use multi-level models for causal inference and how to go beyond interpreting their parameters.
CURRENT EPIDEMIOLOGY REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tyler J. S. Smith, Alexander P. Keil, Jessie P. Buckley
Summary: This review discusses how epidemiologic studies have used observational data to estimate the effects of potential interventions on early-life environmental exposures. The findings suggest a growing interest in estimating intervention effects on early-life environmental exposures, as they are directly related to possible public health actions. Future studies can link research questions to specific hypothetical interventions to build on existing work.
CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REPORTS
(2023)
