Health Effects of Burning Oil
CNN Health reports on the health risks of the smoke clouds formed from burning off the oil from the recent oil spill. The smoke carries with it soot, volatile gases, and other toxic byproducts.
Dr. Phil Harber from the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA says that the most immediate risk is to cleanup workers – more than 12,600 of them – and others who are very close to the burn. He adds, however, that depending on the scope and length of the cleanup effort, those on shore could be affected as well: "People with asthma, or who are very young, or who have cardiac disease, are much more likely to be sensitive to the released pollutants."
The black cloud of smoke is composed largely of small particles that can lodge deeply in the lungs. Additionally, the cloud contains gases including sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and volatile compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Dr. Harber points out that these hydrocarbons at high exposures are considered cancer triggers.
In addition to the smoke created by burning the oil, the spilled oil itself poses a health risk, even while it's sitting on the surface of the water. Interestingly, according to data gathered by the Environmental Protection Agency, air quality levels for ozone and particulates on Gulf coastline are no different than usual. The gases, on the other hand, are affecting people, especially cleanup workers who have reported headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
Especially since "long-term, the potential impact is unclear," air purifiers with carbon filtration can help protect sensitive individuals against exposure to the toxic byproducts of burning oil.
Dr. Phil Harber from the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA says that the most immediate risk is to cleanup workers – more than 12,600 of them – and others who are very close to the burn. He adds, however, that depending on the scope and length of the cleanup effort, those on shore could be affected as well: "People with asthma, or who are very young, or who have cardiac disease, are much more likely to be sensitive to the released pollutants."
The black cloud of smoke is composed largely of small particles that can lodge deeply in the lungs. Additionally, the cloud contains gases including sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and volatile compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Dr. Harber points out that these hydrocarbons at high exposures are considered cancer triggers.
In addition to the smoke created by burning the oil, the spilled oil itself poses a health risk, even while it's sitting on the surface of the water. Interestingly, according to data gathered by the Environmental Protection Agency, air quality levels for ozone and particulates on Gulf coastline are no different than usual. The gases, on the other hand, are affecting people, especially cleanup workers who have reported headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
Especially since "long-term, the potential impact is unclear," air purifiers with carbon filtration can help protect sensitive individuals against exposure to the toxic byproducts of burning oil.
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