University Library
  • Login
A gateway to Melbourne's research publications
Minerva Access is the University's Institutional Repository. It aims to collect, preserve, and showcase the intellectual output of staff and students of the University of Melbourne for a global audience.
View Item 
  • Minerva Access
  • Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences
  • Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
  • Melbourne School of Population and Global Health - Research Publications
  • View Item
  • Minerva Access
  • Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences
  • Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
  • Melbourne School of Population and Global Health - Research Publications
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Immediate and long-term health impact of exposure to gas-mining induced earthquakes and related environmental stressors.

    Thumbnail
    Download
    Accepted version (2.238Mb)

    Published version (481.7Kb)

    Citations
    Altmetric
    Author
    Dückers, MLA; Baliatsas, C; Spreeuwenberg, P; Verheij, RA; Reifels, L; Yzermans, CJ
    Date
    2021-01-26
    Source Title
    European Journal of Public Health
    Publisher
    Oxford University Press (OUP)
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    Reifels, Lennart
    Affiliation
    Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    Dückers, M. L. A., Baliatsas, C., Spreeuwenberg, P., Verheij, R. A., Reifels, L. & Yzermans, C. J. (2021). Immediate and long-term health impact of exposure to gas-mining induced earthquakes and related environmental stressors.. Eur J Public Health, pp.ckaa244--. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaa244.
    Access Status
    Open Access
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/258892
    DOI
    10.1093/eurpub/ckaa244
    Abstract
    BACKGROUND: Little is known about the public health impact of chronic exposure to physical and social stressors in the human environment. Objective of this study was to investigate the immediate and long-term health effects of living in an environment with gas-mining induced earthquakes and related stressors in the Netherlands. METHODS: Data on psychological, somatic and social problems recorded routinely in electronic health records by general practitioners during a 6-year period (2010-2015) were combined with socioeconomic status and seismicity data. To assess immediate health effects of exposure to ML≥1.5 earthquakes, relative risk ratios were calculated for patients in the week of an earthquake and the week afterwards, and compared to the week before the earthquake. To analyse long-term health effects, relative risks of different groups, adjusted for age, sex and socioeconomic status, were computed per year and compared. RESULTS: Apart from an increase in suicidality, few immediate health changes were found in an earthquake week or week afterwards. Generally, the prevalence of health problems was higher in the mining province in the first years, but dropped to levels equal to or even below the control group in subsequent years, with lower relative risks observed in more frequently exposed patients. CONCLUSIONS: From a public health perspective, the findings are fascinating. Contrary to our expectation, health problems presented in general practice in the earthquake province decreased during the study period. More frequently exposed populations reported fewer health issues to general practitioners, which might point at health adaptation to chronic exposure to stressors.

    Export Reference in RIS Format     

    Endnote

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format" and choose "open with... Endnote".

    Refworks

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format". Login to Refworks, go to References => Import References


    Collections
    • Minerva Elements Records [52369]
    • Melbourne School of Population and Global Health - Research Publications [5312]
    Minerva AccessDepositing Your Work (for University of Melbourne Staff and Students)NewsFAQs

    BrowseCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects
    My AccountLoginRegister
    StatisticsMost Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors