GuLFOMBattachment5REVISEDAppendix_G_-_Brochure

Appendix G:

Brochure

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spill clean-up but you worked near the
oil spill or completed some oil spill
worker training.

What is the GuLF Study?
The Gulf Long-term Follow-up (GuLF)
Study will learn about potential health
effects from the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico. The National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is
leading this research. The NIEHS is one of
the National Institutes of Health and part
of the US Government.
We will study workers who did different
types of oil-spill clean up work and others
who were not directly involved in clean-up.
In all, about 55,000 people will be included
in the GuLF Study.
The study will compare the health of clean
up workers and others who did not do
clean-up to learn if health problems are
more common in workers. We will study
other factors that may explain why some
people are more likely than others to get
sick. We will also learn how stress and job
loss from the oil spill affects health,
including mental health.
Who is eligible?
• You are eligible if you are at least 21
years old;
• You did oil spill clean up work for at
least 1 day; or

Some people in the GuLF study will be
invited to be in a part of the study that
includes additional medical tests.

In addition, you are eligible if you

Why should I participate?

• Live in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi,
or Florida; or

This will be the largest study ever about
the health effects of an oil spill. By being
part of this study, you will be helping your
community and others by helping
researchers understand any health effects
related to an oil spill. Results from the
study may help officials plan how to
respond if there is another oil spill in the
future.

• You participated in clean-up activities
as part of a Federal civilian or military
job, regularly work in the oil industry,
or did work that had the most contact
with oil and other agents.
What will I be asked to do?
You will be asked to complete a 30 minute
telephone interview about your oil spill
clean-up activities, health, and lifestyle.
We will follow-your health over time using
national, state and local records, like
death certificates and cancer registries.
About half of the people in the GuLF Study
will be invited to have a clinical home
visit. The visit will include a second health
interview; collection of blood, urine, and
house dust; and some clinical
measurements like height and weight,
blood pressure, glucose (sugar in urine),
and lung function. We will give people in
the study the results of these screening
tests and help them find a doctor or clinic
if they don’t have one.
People who have the home visit will also
be asked to complete short questionnaires
every 2 years. The questionnaires will ask
about changes in health over time.

• You were not directly involved in oil

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Will my privacy be protected?
We will do everything we are legally able
to do to protect your privacy and keep your
information confidential. The Federal
Privacy Act helps us keep your information
safe. The study has been given a
Certificate of Confidentiality. This will
also help us keep your information private.
How can I find out more?
To find out more information about the
GuLF Study, call toll free 1-855-NIH-GULF
(1-855-644-4853) between 9 AM and 9 PM
Monday through Saturday and 12 PM to 6
PM on Sunday. You may also visit
www.nihgulfstudy.org .
We hope you will become part of the
GuLF Study!

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