Citation

Tjalvin G, Magerøy N, Bråtveit M, Lygre SH, Hollund BE, Moen BE. Ind. Health 2016; 55(2): 127-137.

Affiliation

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

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, National Institute of Industrial Health, Japan)

DOI

10.2486/indhealth.2016-0155

PMID

27916759

Abstract

Foul-smelling environmental pollution was a major concern following a chemical workplace explosion. Malodorous pollution has previously been associated with aggravated physical and psychological health, and in persons affected by a trauma, an incidence-related odour can act as a traumatic reminder. Olfaction may even be of significance in the development and persistence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The present longitudinal study assessed whether perceived smell related to malodorous environmental pollution in the aftermath of the explosion was a determinant of subjective health complaints (SHC) and PTSS among gainfully employed adults, when the malodorous pollution was present, and after pollution clean-up. Questionnaire data from validated instruments were analysed using mixed effects models. Individual odour scores were computed, and the participants (n=486) were divided into high and low odour score groups, respectively. Participants in the high odour score group (n=233) reported more SHC and PTSS than those in the low odour score group (n=253), before and even after the pollution was eliminated. These associations lasted for at least three years after the pollution was removed, and might indicate that prompt clean-up is important to avoid persistent health effects after malodorous chemical spills.

Language: en