Health Risks of Weathered Crude Oil
Health risks associated with working while exposed to weathered crude oil include the following:
- Potential dermatitis hazard from skin contact.
- Inhaling oil droplets/oily particles put into the air during cleanup operations can be irritating to eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
- Evaporation that occurs during the first 24 to 48 hours after the spill greatly reduces inhalation hazards from the toxic volatile components, such as benzene.
Contact Dermatitis
NOTE: Even if air sampling shows no detectable levels or very low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), there still may be health effects present.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-7. Which of the following hazards to oil spill cleanup workers is reduced after 48 hours?
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