Red Hill Registry unveils early health and exposure findings nationwide

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The Red Hill Registry, facilitated by the University of Hawaiʻi, has been presenting early health and exposure findings from the 2021 Red Hill water crisis at major scientific conferences across the United States and Canada this fall.

Representing about 500 currently enrolled participants exposed to jet-fuel-contaminated water, registry researchers shared insights at the American Public Health Association, International Society of Exposure Science and Military Health System Research Symposium.

"Every opportunity to share what we are learning helps build the foundation needed to better understand environmental exposures and their potential health impacts," said Rosana "Sanie" Weldon, director of the Red Hill Registry.

Behaviors and symptoms

Presentations highlighted self-reported behaviors alongside an eight-year analysis of total petroleum hydrocarbons, used as a marker of jet fuel, in groundwater.

"The exposure behaviors most frequently reported at this time include cooking, drinking, oral hygiene activities, hand washing, showering and laundry use," said Weldon. "These findings help illustrate potential exposure pathways, including inhalation, dermal and ingestion pathways, among exposed participants."

Researchers also presented a literature review comparing symptoms reported by adults exposed to JP-5 with diagnostic criteria of selected syndromes.

"Frequently reported symptoms include fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, memory problems, anxiety and ear-related concerns," said Haley Oetterer, data management specialist for the Red Hill Registry.

These symptoms align with diagnostic criteria for the compared syndromes.

"A large portion of participants exposed during the Red Hill water crisis were military-connected and the Military Health Research Symposium allowed us to share early observations with healthcare professionals and researchers who frequently study military populations," Oetterer added.

The registry continues enrolling community members and families who lived, worked, attended school or spent significant time in areas served by the Navy water system-including those without symptoms.

Learn more and enroll on the Red Hill Registry website.