Re: BP Experimenting at oil leak site for deeper w

I did not write this but it came from a good source of information, and the valdes spill was a pimple on a nats ass compared to this one



Gulf Oil Spill Health Hazards

Many people will be exposed to airborne and waterborne chemicals as a result of the BP Gulf of Mexico spill. It is important to understand the potential toxic effects and take appropriate steps to prevent or reduce exposure and harm.


Crude Oil Fact Sheet and Benzene

Crude oil contains hundreds of chemicals, comprised primarily of hydrogen and carbon (e.g., simple straight chain paraffins, aromatic ring structures, naphthenes), with some sulfur, nitrogen, metal, and oxygen compounds. -*Chemicals such as benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are very toxic components of crude oil and of high concern. These and other chemicals are volatile, moving from the oil into air*. ***Once airborne, they blow over the ocean for miles, reaching communities far from the oil spill. They can be noticed as petroleum odors. Those working on the spill and people far from it can be exposed to crude oil chemicals in air*.

Chemicals being applied to the water, such as dispersants, are also of concern. We don't have chemical composition details at this time, so can't provide information on health hazards, beyond noting that most are reported to contain petroleum distillates, which pose health hazards when aspirated.

*Exposure

-Exposure can occur through skin contact, inhalation of contaminated air or soil, and ingestion of contaminated water or food. These can occur simultaneously. Exposure pathways may result in localized toxicity (e.g., irritation of the skin following contact), but most health effects are systemic because ingredients can move throughout the body. Exposure varies based on the duration and concentrations in contaminated media. Differences may result from location, work and personal activities, age, diet, use of protective equipment, and other factors. Concurrent exposure to other toxic chemicals must be considered when evaluating toxic effects. *Some chemicals in crude oil are volatile, moving into air easily, and these can often be detectable by smell*.


-Basic Physiological Effects

Crude oil is a complex mixture of chemicals that have varying abilities to be absorbed into the body through the skin, lungs, and during digestion of food and water. *Most components of crude oil enter the bloodstream rapidly when they are inhaled* or swallowed. Crude oil contains chemicals that readily penetrate cell walls, damage cell structures, including DNA, and alter the function of the cells and the organs where they are located. Crude oil is toxic, and ingredients can damage every system in the body:

-respiratory -nervous system, including the brain

-liver - reproductive/urogenital system

-kidneys - endocrine system

-circulatory system - gastrointestinal system

-immune system -sensory systems

musculoskeletal system

Damaging or altering these systems causes a wide range of diseases and conditions. In addition, interference with normal growth and development through endocrine disruption and direct damage to fetal tissue is caused by many crude oil ingredients (CDC, 1999). DNA damage can cause cancer and multi-generational birth defects.


-Acute Exposure Hazards - brief exposure at relatively high levels[1]

Crude oil contains many chemicals that can irritate the skin and mucous membranes on contact. Irritant effects can range from slight reddening to burning, swelling (edema), pain,and permanent skin damage. Commonly reported effects of acute exposure to crude oil through inhalation or ingestion include difficulty breathing, headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and other central nervous system effects. These are more likely to be noticed than potentially more serious effects that don't have obvious signs and symptoms: lung, liver and kidney damage, infertility, immune system suppression, disruption of hormone levels, blood disorders, mutations, and cancer.


*Chronic Exposure Hazards - long-term exposure at relatively low levels (The Entire Inland Gulf Coast/Pensacola Area)

**This type of exposure should be avoided, if at all possible, because the potential for serious health damage is substantial. Chronic health effects are typically evaluated for specific crude oil components (see CDC, 1999), and vary from cancer to permanent neurological damage. They cover a range of diseases affecting all the organ systems listed above.


-*Susceptible Subgroups

**Children are vulnerable to toxic chemicals in crude oil that disrupt normal growth and development. Their brains are highly susceptible to many neurotoxic ingredients. Endocrine disruptors in crude oil can cause abnormal growth, infertility, and other health conditions. Children's exposures may be higher than adults and can include contaminated soil or sand. Newborns are especially vulnerable due to incompletely formed immune and detoxification systems.

-Many people with medical conditions are more susceptible to crude oil toxicity because chemical ingredients can damage organ systems that are already impaired. Specific susceptibilities depend on the medical condition (e.g.,* inhalation poses risks for those with asthma and other respiratory conditions).

-People taking medications that reduce their detoxification ability, and those taking acetaminophen, aspirin, haloperidol, who have nutritional deficiencies or who concurrently *drink alcohol may be more susceptible. Some inherited enzyme deficiencies also increase susceptibility (listed in CDC, 1999).

-People exposed to other toxic chemicals at work or home may be at higher risk.

**Pregnancy places increased stress on many organ systems, including the liver, kidneys, and cardiovascular system. Chemicals in crude oil that are toxic to these same systems can pose serious health risks. Pregnancy also requires a careful balance of hormones to maintain a health pregnancy and healthy baby. Endocrine disruptors in crude oil can jeopardize the hormone balance.

-The developing fetus is susceptible to the toxic effects of many chemicals in crude oil. Many cause mutations, endocrine disruption, skeletal deformities, and other types of birth defects.


-Personal and Public Protection

**It is critical that people who work with or around crude oil wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, **respirators, and water repellant clothing, to minimize exposure. (((****Susceptible members of the public require notice when exposure may occur (e.g., when contaminated air masses move inland) so they can take protective actions))))****.



**HUMAN HEALTH AND BENZENE**- What we are being exposed to now...

The amount of benzene and the length of time of the exposure determine whether harmful health effects will occur and the type and severity of these health effects.

Brief exposure (5-10 minutes) to very high levels of benzene in air (10,000-20,000 ppm) can result in death. **Lower levels (700-3,000 ppm) can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. In most cases, people will stop feeling these effects when they stop being exposed and begin to breathe fresh air.

**Inhalation of benzene for long periods may cause harmful effects in the tissues that form blood cells, especially the bone marrow. These effects can disrupt normal blood production and cause a decrease in important blood components. A decrease in red blood cells can lead to anemia. Reduction in other components in the blood can cause excessive bleeding. Blood production may return to normal after exposure to benzene stops. Excessive exposure to benzene can be harmful to the immune system, increasing the chance for infection and perhaps lowering the body's defense against cancer.

Eating or drinking foods containing high levels of benzene can cause vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, coma, and death. The health effects that may result from eating or drinking foods containing lower levels of benzene are not known.

Skin contact may cause redness and sores. Long term exposure may cause drying and scaling of the skin. Skin contact may also cause overexposure.

Benzene in the eyes may cause general irritation and damage to the cornea.

Exposure to benzene may also be harmful to the reproductive organs. Some women workers who breathed high levels of benzene for many months had irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in the size of their ovaries.

Exposure to benzene has also been linked with chromosomal damage.

Benzene crosses the placenta in humans but no effects on the fetus have been reported.

**Benzene is a known human carcinogen. Benzene has been shown to cause cancer of the blood-forming organs (leukemia). ****There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen.

((***Benzene is a mutagen and a possible human teratogen.))**



-ANIMAL HEALTH

In animals, exposure to food, water or air contaminated with benzene can damage the blood and the immune system and cause neurological effects, behavioural disturbances and cancer.

Studies with pregnant animals show that breathing benzene has harmful effects on the developing fetus. These effects include low birth weight, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage. Concentrations that may not be toxic to the mother may be toxic to the embryo and fetus.

Benzene has high acute and chronic toxicity to aquatic life.

The concentration of benzene found in fish tissues is expected to be somewhat higher than the average concentration of benzene in the water from which the fish was taken.

Benzene can cause death in plants and roots and membrane damage in leaves of various agricultural crops.