Concentrations in human blood of petroleum hydrocarbons associated with the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

During/after the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill, cleanup workers, fisherpersons, SCUBA divers, and coastal residents were exposed to crude oil and dispersants. These people experienced acute physiological and behavioral symptoms and consulted a physician. They were diagnosed with petroleum hydrocarbon poisoning and had blood analyses analyzed for volatile organic compounds; samples were drawn 5-19 months after the spill had been capped. We examined the petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in the blood. The aromatic compounds m,p-xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, benzene, o-xylene, and styrene, and the alkanes hexane, 3-methylpentane, 2-methylpentane, and iso-octane were detected. Concentrations of the first four aromatics were not significantly different from US National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey/US National Institute of Standards and Technology 95th percentiles, indicating high concentrations of contaminants. The other two aromatics and the alkanes yielded equivocal results or significantly low concentrations. The data suggest that single-ring aromatic compounds are more persistent in the blood than alkanes and may be responsible for the observed symptoms. People should avoid exposure to crude oil through avoidance of the affected region, or utilizing hazardous materials suits if involved in cleanup, or wearing hazardous waste operations and emergency response suits if SCUBA diving. Concentrations of alkanes and PAHs in the blood of coastal residents and workers should be monitored through time well after the spill has been controlled.

Predictors of blood volatile organic compound levels in Gulf coast residents

“…To our knowledge, only one other study has compared blood BTEX levels among Gulf state residents exposed to the DWH oil spill with levels in NHANES ( 51 ). Sammarco et al ( 51 ) concluded that blood BTEX levels (except for o-xylene) in their study population were significantly higher than NHANES 95 th percentiles. However, the study was smaller (69 people), lacked any information on smoking, and measured blood levels closer in time to the oil spill (5–19 months after the well was capped).…”

A three year study of metal levels in skin biopsies of whales in the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon oil crisis

“…In the wake of this crisis, most toxicological studies have focused on the effects of PAHs in the oil organics and dispersants. While these aspects are indeed important to understand, few health effects have been linked to PAH levels from this crisis (Carmichael et al, 2012; Fitzgerald and Gohlke, 2014; Schwacke et al, 2014; Lane et al, 2015; Millemann et al, 2015; Sammarco et al, 2015). This outcome may reflect the unique ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico as one with some resilience to oil, due to the large amounts of oil that naturally seeps from the sea floor.…”

Coping with oil spills: oil exposure and anxiety among residents of Gulf Coast states after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

“…2,3 Over a span of three months, the spill contaminated more than 68,000 square miles, ranging from Texas to Florida. [4][5][6] This resulted in damages to ecosystems in affected areas, causing widespread impacts on both the tourism and fishing industries. 3 Several thousand workers and volunteers helped with oil spill cleanup activities.…”