Red Hill Water Contamination Sickened Some 2,000 People, Survey Finds

TL;DR - The Navy’s contamination of its water supply with fuel last year caused approximately 2,000 people to experience symptoms of petroleum exposure, the vast majority of whom were sick for more than a month, according to preliminary results of a survey conducted by federal health officials.

The findings, shared at an Epidemic Intelligence Service conference on Thursday, are among the first statistics to be publicized about the human health impacts of the water contamination crisis. The Navy’s 93,000 water customers around Pearl Harbor were exposed to fuel contamination after two leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility last year.

A survey summary states that of the 2,314 participants surveyed, reported symptoms included: headache (57%); fatigue (44%); dizziness (38%); dry, itchy skin (50%); rash (40%); skin irritation/burning (37%); diarrhea (49%); nausea (40%); and anxiety (37%).

According to the summary, 86% of respondents reported experiencing at least one new or worsening symptom since November 20, the reported date of a major fuel leak, and 87% of symptomatic participants reported improvement after switching to an alternate water source.

May 6, 2022: Red Hill Water Contamination Sickened Some 2,000 People, Survey Finds, Honolulu Civil Beat