Epidemiological Survey on workers of Fiumicino Airport after a fire in May 2015

Introduction On May 7th 2015 a fire broke out in Fiumicino Airport Terminal T3. In the following weeks, workers were exposed to different pollutants (PM10, PAH, PCB, VOC and dioxin) with values exceeding limits. The Airport operated with reduced capacity ( 60%)for up to xx weeks in the weeks after. We estimated exposure, evaluated acute health effects and lung function parameters. Methods Workers underwent blood tests and respiratory function tests (spirometry, saturation) to assess their health status and completed a questionnaire on lifestyle and medical history. Exposure was defined in three levels based on area: red (affected by the fire and closed to the public), yellow (restricted security procedures), green (open to the public). A cumulative indicator weighting the total hours worked in the three different areas was used as individual exposure. Attack Rates(AR) were calculated for acute gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms. A linear regression model was used to assess the lung function (FVC,FEV1,FEF25-75%). Results 755 employees (68% worked in security or as cleaners) completed the online questionnaire and medical tests. In the first two weeks after fire, security workers had very high acute symptoms decreasing from red to green area (gastrointestinal AR:38%,23%,14%; respiratory AR:35%, 33%, 24%). The same pattern was observed in cleaners (gastrointestinal AR:20%,17%,7%; respiratory AR:23%, 19%,12%). Respiratory function tests were in the norm, a reduction in FVC values was observed only in subjects reporting respiratory symptoms or asthma (ranging between -0.02 for low-exposed and -0.10 for those high-exposed),not significant. Conclusions Health impact assessments of fires in these contexts is complex due to the difficulty in reconstructing individual exposure and lack of direct measures of released pollutants. Since we observed only acute effects, a surveillance program to assess health effects in the long period, as for dioxin exposure, is needed.