Gulf Spill oil dispersants associated with health symptoms in cleanup workers
Oil dispersants are a blend of chemical compounds used to break down oil slicks into smaller drops of oil, making them easily degraded by natural processes or diluted by large volumes of water. The study estimated the likelihood of exposure to dispersants, based on the types of jobs the workers did and where. Individuals who handled dispersants, worked near where dispersants were being applied, or had contact with dispersant equipment reported the symptoms they experienced during oil spill cleanup as part of the Gulf Long-term Follow-up (GuLF) STUDY. The research team found that workers exposed to dispersants were more likely to experience certain symptoms -- cough, wheeze, tightness in the chest, and burning in the eyes, nose, throat, or lungs -- than those who were not exposed to dispersants. Dale Sandler, Ph.D., the lead GuLF STUDY r esearcher at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of NIH, said the findings only apply to workers involved in ...