Physiological Effects of Diving with Oil/Dispersants Present

[Hetland]

Why am I unable to find ANY information on the physiological effects of diving with oil or dispersants present? Maybe some of the more educated folks can offer some insight?

• Do we know what levels oil / dispersant in water are safe to dive in?
• Do we know ANYTHING about the dispersants themselves, and the effects they could have on humans through skin absorption?
• How long will it take the Gulf to "clear" the oil that has been spilled?
• Would hurricane or other significant storm activity reintroduce contaminants that had previously mixed with sediment on the bottom, causing previously "safe" levels to become unsafe again?
• How long before fish are safe to eat again? (I know we are being told it's safe to eat Gulf fish, but if that's true, then why is 1/3 of the Gulf closed to fishing?)

 

[tyesai]

Why am I unable to find ANY information on the physiological effects of diving with oil or dispersants present? Maybe some of the more educated folks can offer some insight?

• Do we know what levels oil / dispersant in water are safe to dive in?
  Good question???
• Do we know ANYTHING about the dispersants themselves, and the effects they could have on humans through skin absorption?
  SKIN CONTACT :May cause irritation with prolonged contact. Frequent or prolonged contact with product may defat and dry the skin, leading to discomfort and dermatitis. That is for one type of dispersant.
  
  Here is what it says for another type. Eye and skin irritant. Repeated or excessive exposure to butoxyethanol may cause injury to red blood cells
  (hemolysis), kidney or the liver. Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed. Do not get in eyes, on skin, on clothing. SKIN CONTACT :
  Can cause moderate irritation. Harmful if absorbed through skin.
  INGESTION :
  May be harmful if swallowed. May cause liver and kidney effects and/or damage. There may be irritation to the
  gastro-intestinal tract.
  INHALATION :
  Harmful by inhalation. Repeated or prolonged exposure may irritate the respiratory tract.
  SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE :
  Acute :
  Excessive exposure may cause central nervous system effects, nausea, vomiting, anesthetic or narcotic effects.
  Chronic :
  Repeated or excessive exposure to butoxyethanol may cause injury to red blood cells (hemolysis), kidney or the
  liver.
  AGGRAVATION OF EXISTING CONDITIONS :
  Skin contact may aggravate an existing dermatitis condition.
  HUMAN HEALTH HAZARDS - CHRONIC :
  Contains ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butoxyethanol). Prolonged and/or repeated exposure through inhalation
  or extensive skin contact with EGBE may result in damage to the blood and kidneys.
  The link
  http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/posted/2931/Corexit_EC9527A_MSDS.539295.pdf
  
  That is just two MSDS sheet snippets, here is a link for more info on chemicals
  National Contingency Plan Product Schedule | Emergency Management | US EPA
  It has the info on the lethal concentrations or LC's that will help you figure out if you want to dive in this crap too. It will tell you parts per million and for how many hours it is dangerous
  
• How long will it take the Gulf to "clear" the oil that has been spilled?
  Some studies suggest that the half-life for Louisiana crude is 12-70 days in seawater, so with an estimated 92,000,000'ish gallons leaked half of that magically disapearing every 30 days equals a long, frieking time.
• Would hurricane or other significant storm activity reintroduce contaminants that had previously mixed with sediment on the bottom, causing previously "safe" levels to become unsafe again?
  Common sense would dictate yes
• How long before fish are safe to eat again? (I know we are being told it's safe to eat Gulf fish, but if that's true, then why is 1/3 of the Gulf closed to fishing?)
  It is unknown if dispersed oil has toxic implications to the human population because bioaccumulation through the food chain has not been evaluated.
  
  However the long term effects on aquatic life are unknown, which is why EPA and the Coast Guard are requiring BP to implement a robust sampling and monitoring plan. Enjoy your fish sandwich.

I cut and pasted most of that from the EPA website below.
Dispersants | EPA Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico | US EPA

There is also a link to the MSDS on that webpage were they have the dispersant info.

Lots and lots of info saying that they don't really know but it is probably less toxic than the oil. Personally I'll just stick to eating beef injected with growth hormones if I'm down that way rather than chance it with some clams.

Hope this helps a little bit, I found tons and tons of stuff and only had 45 minutes or so to sift through it. Really there isn't a simple answer to any of your questions, we could type pages and pages on them. Use the links, the EPA has info for all this stuff. I've gotta go to bed.

I'm sure some of the scientist around here have got better answers.

 

[Hetland]

CONSENSUS STATEMENT:
Scientists oppose the use of dispersant chemicals in the Gulf of Mexico
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/TODAY/Sections/aNEWS/2010/07-July 10/ScientistsConsensusStatement.pdf

Scientists: BP dispersants making spill more toxic - Nightly News - NBC News Investigates - msnbc.com

 

[cdolphin]

How long before fish are safe to eat again? (I know we are being told it's safe to eat Gulf fish, but if that's true, then why is 1/3 of the Gulf closed to fishing?)
It is unknown if dispersed oil has toxic implications to the human population because bioaccumulation through the food chain has not been evaluated.

However the long term effects on aquatic life are unknown, which is why EPA and the Coast Guard are requiring BP to implement a robust sampling and monitoring plan. Enjoy your fish sandwich.

Is it just me, or does it seem like the fox is watching the hen house?

It frightens me that BP is being left to do any sampling or reporting. Coincidentally, the dispersants are also petroleum based chemicals.

 

[PatW]

Used judiciously, dispersants have positive aspects. They break the oil down into really small droplets which allows microbial action to attack the oil. However, given the rather ad hoc nature of things in the Gulf, I rather doubt that anyone has a cool enough head to really think very clearly about such matters - politicians, journalists, oil people or scientists.