Citation

Tjalvin G, Hollund BE, Lygre SH, Moen BE, Bråtveit M. Arch. Environ. Occup. Health 2014; 70(6): 332-340.

Affiliation

a Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry , University of Bergen , Bergen , Norway.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/19338244.2014.918929

PMID

25136935

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess whether exposed workers had more subjective health complaints than controls one and a half years after a chemical explosion involving a mixture of hydrocarbons and sulfurous compounds. A cross-sectional survey based on The Subjective Health Complaints Inventory (SHC) were conducted among 147 exposed workers and 137 controls. A significantly higher total SCH score (linear regression, p = 0.01) was found for the exposed workers compared to controls when adjusting for gender, age, smoking habits and educational level. The exposed workers reported significantly more headache, hot flashes, sleep problems, tiredness, dizziness and sadness/depression. We do not know the cause of these complaints, but health personnel should be aware that health complaints might be related to polluting episodes even when exposure levels are below occupational guideline levels.

Language: en