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The Occupational Health Effects of Responding to a Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion Among Emergency First Responders – Lincoln County, Kentucky, 2019

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 September 2021

David P. Bui Open the ORCID record for David P. Bui [Opens in a new window] ,
Esther A. Kukielka Open the ORCID record for Esther A. Kukielka [Opens in a new window] ,
Erin F. Blau ,
Lindsay K. Tompkins ,
K. Leann Bing ,
Charles Edge ,
Rebecca Hardin ,
Diane Miller ,
James House  and
Tegan Boehmer
...Show all authors
David P. Bui*
Affiliation:
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Esther A. Kukielka
Affiliation:
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA Office of Emergency Management, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Erin F. Blau
Affiliation:
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA Kentucky Department for Public Health, Frankfort, KY, USA
Lindsay K. Tompkins
Affiliation:
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
K. Leann Bing
Affiliation:
Office of Community Health and Hazard Assessment, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA, USA
Charles Edge
Affiliation:
Office of Emergency Management, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Rebecca Hardin
Affiliation:
Kentucky Department for Public Health, Frankfort, KY, USA
Diane Miller
Affiliation:
Lincoln County Health Department, Stanford, KY, USA
James House
Affiliation:
Kentucky Department for Public Health, Frankfort, KY, USA
Tegan Boehmer
Affiliation:
Office of the Director, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Andrea Winquist
Affiliation:
Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Maureen Orr
Affiliation:
Office of Innovation and Analytics, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA, USA
Renée Funk
Affiliation:
Office of Emergency Management, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Doug Thoroughman
Affiliation:
Kentucky Department for Public Health, Frankfort, KY, USA Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program, Division of State and Local Readiness, Center for Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
*
Corresponding author: David Bui, Email: pgz2@cdc.gov
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Abstract

Objective:

The aim of the study was to assess occupational health effects 1 month after responding to a natural gas pipeline explosion.

Methods:

First responders to a pipeline explosion in Kentucky were interviewed about pre- and post-response health symptoms, post-response health care, and physical exertion and personal protective equipment (PPE) use during the response. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between several risk factors and development of post-response symptoms.

Results:

Among 173 first responders involved, 105 (firefighters [58%], emergency medical services [19%], law enforcement [10%], and others [12%]) were interviewed. Half (53%) reported at least 1 new or worsening symptom, including upper respiratory symptoms (39%), headache (18%), eye irritation (17%), and lower respiratory symptoms (16%). The majority (79%) of symptomatic responders did not seek post-response care. Compared with light-exertion responders, hard-exertion responders (48%) had significantly greater odds of upper respiratory symptoms (aOR: 2.99, 95% CI: 1.25–7.50). Forty-four percent of responders and 77% of non-firefighter responders reported not using any PPE.

Conclusions:

Upper respiratory symptoms were common among first responders of a natural gas pipeline explosion and associated with hard-exertion activity. Emergency managers should ensure responders are trained in, equipped with, and properly use PPE during these incidents and encourage responders to seek post-response health care when needed.

Keywords

emergency respondernatural gaspipelineexplosionoccupational healthfirefighteremergency management
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 16 , Issue 5 , October 2022 , pp. 1997 - 2004
Copyright
© Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2021. This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States

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