Top 5 Takeaways

1. Incident Overview: An industrial fire in Winnebago County, Illinois, led to the release of smoke, dust, and debris, prompting evacuation and masking advisories.
2. Survey Deployment: An electronic self-administered survey was used to assess the health effects of the fire, distributed via email and promoted through various channels.
3. Survey Response: Out of 40,217 emailed survey links, 1,807 were accessed, with an additional 223 surveys received through other means, totaling 2,030 respondents.
4. Health Impact: 45.1% of respondents reported new or worsened symptoms, primarily affecting the ears, nose, throat, nervous system, and eyes.
5. Geospatial Analysis: Geospatial analyses were used to assess the distribution of symptoms and to target survey promotion efforts effectively.

Original Article Author and Citation

Corresponding Author

Krishna Surasi, okt3@cdc.gov, 510-620-3711

Suggested Citation

Surasi K, Nakayama JY, Johnson M, et al. Notes from the Field: Deployment of an Electronic Self-Administered Survey to Assess Human Health Effects of an Industrial Chemical Facility Fire — Winnebago County, Illinois, June–July 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:1715–1716. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7049a4

Summary

On June 14, 2021, a fire at an industrial facility in Winnebago County, Illinois, led to the release of hazardous materials, prompting local authorities to issue evacuation and masking advisories. To assess the health impacts, an electronic self-administered survey was distributed to residents in affected areas. The survey collected data on symptoms and exposure, with 2,030 unique responses received. The majority of respondents reported new or worsened symptoms, particularly related to the ears, nose, throat, nervous system, and eyes.

Methods

The survey was distributed using an existing electronic system previously used for COVID-19 vaccination registration. Survey links were emailed to residents in 11 selected zip codes, and additional promotion was done through door-to-door flyers, news outlets, social media, and the health department’s website. Geospatial analyses were conducted using ArcGIS Pro to assess the geographic distribution of respondents and their reported symptoms.

Discussion

The use of an electronic self-administered survey allowed for rapid and wide distribution, enrolling twice as many respondents as previous ACE investigations. Geospatial analyses enabled targeted follow-up and promotional efforts, improving response rates in specific areas. However, the convenience sample and low response rate to the emailed survey link were limitations. Despite these challenges, the approach demonstrated the potential for efficient surveying in wide geographic areas after chemical incidents.

Conclusion

This investigation highlighted the adaptability of data modernization-driven public health resources developed during the COVID-19 pandemic for other public health needs. Future ACE investigations could benefit from using electronic self-administered surveys to efficiently gather data over a wide geographic area.

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