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The Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the potential for public health risks

The purpose of this document is to provide advice and information on the potential for public health risks following the oil spill on Tuesday 20 April 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Summary:

  • Published evidence suggests the short and long term health risks to humans from exposure to oil spills at sea are minimal.
  • Direct exposure to the oil spill, detergents and other chemicals being used to combat its spread, should be avoided.
  • Swimming, fishing and other water-related activities should be avoided in directly affected areas.
  • Advice and relevant internet links on air and water quality, local food and health related effects of the oil spill is available on the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/chemical/.

Detailed sources of information and advice on the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill.

1. Latest news updates and official media releases on the oil spill:

2. Human Health effects of the oil spill:

3. Environmental effects and monitoring of the oil spill:     

Summary of UK experience from two oil spills and health related effects

Risks to human health are associated with exposure to crude oil, including direct contact and inhalation of volatile hydrocarbons. The risk to health from an oil spill at sea will depend upon how exposure occurs, specifically in terms of amount and duration of exposure.

The UK has experience of health risk assessment from two previous oil spills[*] outlined below.

A number of acute health effects in the UK from exposure to hydrocarbon fumes were reported following these oil releases at sea, including headaches, eye and throat irritation [1-7].  Perception of risk was also identified as an important factor effecting symptoms reported [7]. Longer term health effects following exposure were not identified as significant by either an epidemiological or biomonitoring study [2,3].

References

  1. Campbell D, Cox D, Crum J, Foster K, Christie P, Brewster D Initial effects of the grounding of the tanker Braer on health in Shetland. The Shetland Health Study Group. BMJ. 1993 Nov 13;307(6914):1251-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1679400/?tool=pubmed
  2. Campbell D, Cox D, Crum J, Foster K, Riley A. Later effects of grounding of tanker Braer on health in Shetland. BMJ. 1994 Sep 24;309(6957):773-4. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/309/6957/773?view=long&pmid=7950562
  3. Cole J, Beare DM, Waugh AP, Capulas E, Aldridge KE, Arlett CF, Green MH, Crum JE, Cox D, Garner RC, Dingley KH, Martin EA, Podmore K, Heydon R, Farmer PB. Biomonitoring of possible human exposure to environmental genotoxic chemicals: lessons from a study following the wreck of the oil tanker Braer. Environ Mol Mutagen. 1997;30(2):97-111.
  4. Crum JE. Peak expiratory flow rate in schoolchildren living close to Braer oil spill.BMJ. 1993 Jul 3;307(6895):23-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1678519/?tool=pubmed
  5. Foster K, Campbell D, Crum J, Stove M. Non-response in a population study after an environmental disaster. Public Health. 1995 Jul;109(4):267-73.
  6. Gallacher J, Bronstering K, Palmer S, Fone D, Lyons R. Symptomatology attributable to psychological exposure to a chemical incident: a natural experiment. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007 Jun;61(6):506-12.
  7. Lyons RA, Temple JM, Evans D, Fone DL, Palmer SR. Acute health effects of the Sea Empress oil spill. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1999 May;53(5):306-10.

 

[*] The Braer (January 1993): The tanker MV Braer ran aground on Garth's Ness and leaked its cargo of 85 000 tonnes of crude oil. The Sea Empress (February 1996): The Sea Empress oil tanker ran aground near the southwest coast of Wales leaking 72 000 tonnes of crude oil and 360 tonnes of heavy fuel oil.


Last reviewed: 7 May 2010