Table 2 Acute health problems reported by workers engaged in the clean-up of the Prestige oil-spill. Number of subjects in the sample and estimated percentage in the population.
Paid workers (N = 265) | Volunteers (N = 266) | Seamen (N = 133) | Bird cleaners (N = 135) | p | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | ||
Injuries | |||||||||
Lesions | 23 | 8.7 | 9 | 3.2 | 10 | 7.6 | 31 | 19.2 | <0.001 |
Lower back pain | 17 | 6.1 | 16 | 5.6 | 12 | 9.1 | 5 | 3.1 | 0.281 |
Toxicological symptoms | |||||||||
Headaches | 40 | 15.8 | 17 | 5.7 | 38 | 28.4 | 8 | 5.0 | <0.001 |
Itchy eyes | 17 | 7.1 | 11 | 4.6 | 12 | 9.1 | 6 | 4.0 | 0.295 |
Nausea/vomiting/dizziness | 38 | 15.4 | 24 | 9.5 | 21 | 15.4 | 16 | 11.2 | 0.169 |
Throat and respiratory tract problems | 30 | 12.4 | 18 | 5.6 | 40 | 30.4 | 12 | 8.0 | <0.001 |