VIDEO: Toxins in air from evaporating oil may pose greater threat than oily water
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 2:58 PM by GottaLaff View Comments
I just got this e-mail alert:
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Scientists now say oil spill is leaking between 1.47 million and 2.52 million gallons a day
One of the “remedies” for this horrendous disaster is to use chemical dispersants to break up (read: Hide from plain view) the oil into tiny fragments that can be much more readily absorbed. It only follows that airborne fumes would be on the A-List of health concerns.
Gee, ya think?
Toxins that are released into the air from evaporating oil and dispersants may pose a greater health risk to clean-up workers and Gulf residents than oily water when the thickest parts of the oil slick wash ashore . […]
The Institute for Southern Studies (ISS) reported as early as May 10 that, “the latest evaluation of air monitoring data shows a serious threat to human health from airborne chemicals emitted by the ongoing deep water gusher.”
On May 14, WWLTV in New Orleans also ran a report warning of the danger of airborne toxins:
I’ve hesitated to post about this until I had more information. My pal AltaKocker, who linked me the article , has been talking to me about it for weeks now. Finally, we have more than just speculation.
The chemicals released into the air by evaporating oil and/or dispersants include Hydrogen Sulfide, Benzene, Methylene Chloride, 2-Butoxyethanol and other toxic gases known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). All are highly toxic to humans and physical reactions from exposure to these gases may include:
Drowsiness
Irritation of eyes, nose or throat
Coughing or difficulty breathing
Dizziness
Nausea or vomiting
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Headaches
Tremors
Confusion
Convulsions
Unconsciousness
Death (at very high levels)
Clean-up workers offshore and residents on the Gulf coast have already reported many of these symptoms.
All previous posts on dispersants and their deadly effects here .
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