Risk Factors for Adverse Health Effects Following Hazardous Materials Incidents

Abstract

Toidentify risk factors for persistent morbidity, we conducted a prospectivestudy of individuals involved in hazardous materials incidents reported to theWashington Poison Center. Between December 1997 and October 1999, 202 subjectsin 87 incidents were surveyed by telephone. Medical symptoms persisting for aminimum of 8 days after the incident were reported in 51 (25%) subjects, and18 (9%) left work or school for more than 2 days because of the exposure.Medical intervention was reported in 46 (58%) of 79 subjects for whom medicalrecords were available, and objective abnormalities were found in 57 (72%).Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that subjects with dermalexposures, three or more alcoholic drinks per week, and previous use ofpsychiatric medications were more likely to report persistent symptoms.Divorced, widowed, or separated subjects, asthmatic subjects, and those havinginitial dermal symptoms were more likely to miss work or school for more than2 days. Of patients evaluated at a health care facility, subjects withpreexisting hypertension were more likely to receive medical treatment or haveobjective medical findings, whereas those with inhalation exposures and thosedecontaminated at the scene were less likely to be treated or haveabnormalities. In our study, both incident and individual factors werepredictive of adverse health effects, and these findings should be consideredin planning the care of patients involved in hazardous materialsincidents.