SEPAR-Prestige Study - Health effects of the Prestige oil spill

Duration

2003-2010

Coordinator

Jan-Paul Zock

Funded by

Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FIS
SEPAR
CIBERESP

Background and Objective



The wreckage of the oil tanker Prestige in November 2002 heavily contaminated the coast of Galicia, north-western Spain. Our aim was to evaluate long-term respiratory effects and chromosomal aberrations in relation to clean-up operations in local fishermen.



Methods



In stage 1 (January - September 2004), a questionnaire survey was done among 6,780 fishermen (76% response) from 38 cooperatives. In stage 2 (September 2004 - February 2005) a detailed health examination was done in selected subgroups of 501 highly exposed fishermen and 177 without exposure to clean-up work. Respiratory outcomes included forced spirometry and methacholine challenge testing and a variety of biological markers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Chromosomal lesions and structural alterations were determined in peripheral lymphocytes. In stage 3 (June - July 2008) data on respiratory symptoms was obtained in 623 telephone interviews (92% response) and participants were invited to participate in stage 4 (functional tests and biological markers November 2008 - April 2009).



Results



Stage 1 showed a dose-dependent association between participation in clean-up work and the prevalence of lower respiratory tract symptoms. Stage 2 showed that among lifetime non-smokers, exposed fishermen significantly had more often bronchial hyperresponsiveness (15% vs. 9%) and increased levels of 8-isoprostane (48% vs. 20%) and of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (59% vs. 14%) in EBC. Structural chromosomal alterations were more common in exposed (23%) than in non-exposed (4%). Stage 3 showed that the prevalence of respiratory symptoms had slightly declined over time but was still higher (35% vs. 28%) in exposed fishermen.



Conclusion



Fishermen who participated in the clean-up of the Prestige oil spill showed respiratory effects including bronchial reactivity and oxidative stress in combination with symptoms, as well as indications of chromosomal abnormalities. This suggests both a persistent inflammatory reaction in the airways and a systemic genotoxic effect.