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

Carrasco et al. BMC Public Health 2006 6:1   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-6-1