Fine Particulate Matter and Lung Function among Burning-Exposed Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Workers

BACKGROUND: During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, controlled burning was conducted to remove oil from the water. Workers near combustion sites were potentially exposed to increased fine particulate matter [with aerodynamic diameter [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text])] levels. Exposure to [Formula: see text] has been linked to decreased lung function, but to our knowledge, no study has examined exposure encountered in an oil spill cleanup. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between estimated [Formula: see text] only from burning/flaring of oil/gas and lung function measured 1–3 y after the DWH disaster. METHODS: We included workers who participated in response and cleanup activities on the water during the DWH disaster and had lung function measured at a subsequent home visit ([Formula: see text]). [Formula: see text] concentrations were estimated using a Gaussian plume dispersion model and linked to work histories via a job-exposure matrix. We evaluated forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1; milliliters), forced vital capacity (FVC; milliliters), and their ratio (FEV1/FVC; %) in relation to average and cumulative daily maximum exposures using multivariable linear regressions. RESULTS: We observed significant exposure–response trends associating higher cumulative daily maximum [Formula: see text] exposure with lower FEV1 ([Formula: see text]) and FEV1/FVC ([Formula: see text]). In comparison with the referent group (workers not involved in or near the burning), those with higher cumulative exposures had lower FEV1 [[Formula: see text] , 95% confidence interval (CI): [Formula: see text] , 3.7] and FEV1/FVC ([Formula: see text] , 95% CI: [Formula: see text] , 0.2). We also saw nonsignificant reductions in FVC (high vs. referent: [Formula: see text] , 95% CI: [Formula: see text] , 77.6; [Formula: see text]). Similar associations were seen for average daily maximum [Formula: see text] exposure. Inverse associations were also observed in analyses stratified by smoking and time from exposure to spirometry and when we restricted to workers without prespill lung disease. CONCLUSIONS: Among oil spill workers, exposure to [Formula: see text] specifically from controlled burning of oil/gas was associated with significantly lower FEV1 and FEV1/FVC when compared with workers not involved in burning. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8930