NPR report on health effects in oil clean up crews - mainly heat and humidity

[snake doctor]

See http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/06/02/127374111/oil-cleanup-workers-might-face-health-risks

[MDR]

I am surprised to see this kind of article coming from NPR. I would have expected them to jump on the "Oil making them sick" bandwagon.

We were in Hopedale the day after the first guys reported getting sick. They has also ordered over 100 clean up boats to return to Breton Sound as a result. The word I heard around the marina that afternoon was that those that got sick were really simply suffering from heat exhaustion.

I would not be surprised if working around the higher concentrations of oil would make the heat stress related symptoms even worse. When we fished the MRGO dam the night it was originally closed I could smell a pretty strong creosote smell. I worked for a railroad installation/repair crew in college and we dealt with the railroad ties that were of course covered in creosote. It is nasty stuff. I am no expert and do not know the chemical aspects like others will, but my guess is that the heavier concentrations of oil will have similar properties. Just prolonged exposure to that stuff has got to make you sick to your stomach. Add in heat, humidity, and not properly hydrating and bingo, you win the I feel like crap award.

[Yak-a-Lou]

Stole your link for the COREXIT MSDS thread. Hope you don't mind.

[Hobie1Kenobie]

I had to be fitted for a respirator before I could fly out to the site. When we landed it was overpowering. Some guys have been sleeping with them on.

[snake doctor]

I was wondering what it was like on site at the spill. I have smelled volatiles on 4 or 5 different occasions since the spill, and I am 50 + miles away. The light volatile hydrocarbons will cause brain damage, so ALWAYS wear the proper respirator. It must have been like putting your head over a bucket of gasoline.