O/T Crude Oil Health Hazards Fact Sheet

[Guest guest]

Wed, May 12, 2010 8:14:20 AM[occ-env-med-l] Crude Oil Toxicity Factsheet

There is a lot of downright inaccurate and somewhat poorly considered advice

" floating " around the popular media and net about the toxic potential of

petroleum products.

After receiving a number of requests for info, Dr. Kathy Burns of Sciencecorps

and I prepared this hyperlinked " Factsheet " with references.

It does correct some of the misinformation appearing in the media that millions

of gallons of crude oil pumped into the Gulf may threaten some dolphins and

seagulls, but won't be much more than a nuisance to people.

Obviously, it is not intended to serve as definitive medical advice in any

specific situation.

It is intended to be shared.

R. Harbut, MD, MPH, FCCP

CoDirector, National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers

Director, Environmental Cancer Initiative

Karmanos Cancer Institute

Professor (Clinical), Internal Medicine, Wayne State University

Chief, Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Section Chief, Occ/Env Medicine

Providence Hospital.

118 N. Washington

Royal Oak, Michigan 48067-1751

248.547.9100

Crude Oil Health Hazards Fact Sheet

Dr. Harbut, Karmanos Cancer Institute

Dr. Kathleen Burns, Sciencecorps

http://www.sciencecorps.org/crudeoilhazards.htm

Many people will be exposed to crude oil 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. This fact sheet

provides a health hazard summary, and links to more detailed information.

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 (see Table

D-1 in CDC, 1999 linked below). Crude oil composition varies slightly by its

source, but its toxic properties are fairly consistent. 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 are be noticed as petroleum

odors. Those working on the spill and people far from it can be exposed to crude

oil chemicals in air.

We have prepared 1 page summaries for the public and for workers which you can

download and print.

www.sciencecorps.org/crudeoilhazards-public.pdf

www.sciencecorps.org/crudeoilhazards-workers.pdf

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. See EPA's

summary of oil spill response products (March 2010):

http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/docs/oil/ncp/notebook.pdf

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

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. The necessary equipment will depend

on the kind of exposure that can occur (dermal, inhalation, ingestion). See OSHA

guidance at OSHA 2010 link below. 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.

Sources

CDC, 1999: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp123.pdf

OSHA, 2010: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/3172/3172.html

NLM: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/oilspills.html - very limited information on

human health

The National Toxicology Program (NIEHS-NIH) provides information on carcinogenic

crude oil ingredients (e.g., benzene) & limited information on reproductive

hazards http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/

California's EPA provides a list of chemicals know to cause cancer and/or

reproductive harm:

http://www.oehha.org/prop65/prop65_list/files/P65single040210.pdf

Children's Health - International pediatric consensus statement regarding

children's susceptibility to toxic chemicals:

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/119425377/HTMLSTART This

contains a link to 120 scientific papers presented at the Conference on

Children's Susceptibility to Environmental Hazards.

Federal focus on children's environmental health including policies designed to

protect children: http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm

It is useful to directly consult the medical literature to obtain current

information. The National Library of Medicine access to peer reviewed medical

studies on chemicals and mixtures including crude oil is at:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed & TabCmd=Limits

For up to date information and ways to help with the Gulf oil disaster see:

www.waterkeeper.org

Authors

R. Harbut, MD, MPH, FCCP

Professor, Internal Medicine, Wayne State University

Chief, Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine

Director of the Environmental Cancer Initiative

Karmanos Cancer Institute

Providence Hospital

118 N. Washington, Royal Oak, Michigan 48067-1751

248.547.9100

e-mail: harbutm@...

Kathleen Burns, Ph.D.

Director

Sciencecorps

Lexington, Massachusetts

(781) 861-1108

e-mail: kmb@...

www.sciencecorps.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] The exposure of susceptible individuals, such as newborns and people with

specific health problems, may result in acute exposure health effects at levels

that would not result in observable harm in healthy adults.