# 4635
As crude oil and tar balls continue to wash ashore along the Gulf Coast, an increasing number of people will find themselves directly impacted by the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Accordingly, the CDC has created a 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill page with information for the general public and those working to clean up this environmental catastrophe.
(click image to view site)
CDCEmergency on Twitter has also been sending out tweets regarding oil spill safety information. A couple of examples from yesterday include:
- Wash skin ASAP if contact w/ oil or tar balls from #oilspill occurs. If you develop a rash, see a health care provider. http://is.gd/cHsMV via web Retweeted by you and 100+ others
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Do not touch oil or tar balls that reach shore. Contact can be hazardous. http://is.gd/cHhbh #oilspill via web
With 1.2 million followers (people who have signed up to receive the CDC’s tweets), and more than 100 Retweets (people who have passed the message on to their followers), this message is obviously getting out to a lot of people.
If you are on Twitter, you may wish to start following CDCEmergency as well.
Having been in the midst of a significant (but minor in comparison) oil spill while living aboard my boat in 1993 (see Florida Deepwater Horizon FAQ & Resources), I’m at least partially aware of what those in the path of this black tide have in store over the summer.
While there are some unanswered questions regarding the health effects of extended exposure to crude oil, volatile hydrocarbons, and the dispersants being used by the cleanup crews (The Pump Handle has been covering these issues, including here, and here) – the CDC has put together a guide based on what they know right now.
Given that individual responses to exposure will vary (some may tolerate it less well than others), and other unknowns, the best course of action is to avoid or limit exposure to these these contaminants as much as possible.
Here is the CDC’s general advice page.
What to Expect from the Oil Spill and How to Protect Your Health
People can be exposed to hazardous substances related to the spill by breathing them (air), by swallowing them (food, water), or by touching them (skin). People should avoid close contact to the spill and fumes from any burning oil.
Air Quality:
- Smell: People may be able to smell the oil spill from the shore. The odor comes from chemicals in the oil that people can smell at levels well below those that would make most people sick. However, exposure to low levels of these chemicals may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. People with asthma or other lung diseases may be more sensitive to these effects.
- Burning oil: When responders burn some of the oil, some “Particulate Matter” (PM) may reach the shore. PM is a mix of very small particles and liquid droplets found in the air. PM may pose a greater risk for people who have a chronic condition such as asthma or heart disease.
If you smell gas or see smoke or know that fires are nearby, stay indoors, set your air conditioner to reuse indoor air, and avoid physical activities that put extra demands on your lungs and heart.
Food:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are monitoring the oil spill and its potential impact on the safety of seafood harvested from the area. Although crude oil has the potential to taint seafood with flavors and odors caused by exposure to hydrocarbon chemicals, the public should not be concerned about the safety of seafood in the stores at this time. For more information about seafood and the oil spill, visit http://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm210436.htm.
Water:
Drinking water and household water are not expected to be affected by the spill. However, water used for recreation may be affected. Swimming in water contaminated with chemicals from the oil spill could cause health effects. For more information about water and the oil spill, visit http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/oil_spill/information_residents.htm#5.
Follow local and state public health guidelines and warnings about the use of beaches and coastal water for swimming, boating, and fishing. For more information about beach safety, visit http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/542551/.
Dispersants:
Oil spill dispersants break an oil slick into small drops. For most people, brief contact with a small amount of oil spill dispersants will do no harm. However, longer contact can cause a rash and dry skin. Dispersants can also irritate your eyes. Breathing or swallowing dispersants can also cause health effects.
If you are concerned that you have been exposed to oil or dispersants, see your doctor. Health care providers can find more information on CDC’s oil spill web site at http://emergency.cdc.gov/gulfoilspill2010.
