Crude Oil Spills and Respiratory Health of Clean-up Workers: A Systematic Review of Literature

BACKGROUND: Clean-up workers are affected worldwide by the negative effects of crude oil spills on their health. However, the global data with respect to the consequences of crude oil spillage on the respiratory health (RH) of this vulnerable group is still not adequate. We systematically reviewed the literature’s existing knowledge on global crude oil spills and the RH outcomes of this vulnerable population (the clean-up workers or oil spill responders). METHODS: We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Science Direct databases to identify and systematically review studies of crude oil spills and RH outcomes of clean-up workers published from January 01, 2001, up to June 30, 2022. We excluded in-vitro, animal, and household exposure studies. RESULTS: We identified 20 articles that assessed the relationship between crude oil spills and RH outcomes of clean-up workers. Most of the studies that addressed the association between crude oil spills and RH outcomes among clean-up workers were prospective and analytical studies, and fewer studies were cross-sectional studies. Most of the articles showed that the RH of clean-up workers is adversely affected both on a short-term and long-term basis with two articles refuting the adverse long-term RH effects of a crude oil spill and one article showing no difference between exposure to crude oil spills and lung parameters of clean-up workers. Less than 50% of the articles reviewed used a spirometry test to assess the RH of clean-up workers. There are also limited studies showing the association between some independent crude oil spills and the RH outcomes of crude oil spill responders like the Hebei Spirit oil spill. CONCLUSION: There is a high level of exposure to crude oil spills by clean-up workers and this exposure is associated with adverse respiratory health effects. Integrated efforts are needed to curb this menace, thereby reducing crude oil spills to the barest minimum and by extension reducing the adverse respiratory health effects associated with it among this vulnerable population.