title: Concentrations in human blood of petroleum hydrocarbons associated with the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Gulf of Mexico.
abstract: During/after the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill, cleanup workers, fisherpersons, SCUBA divers, and coastal residents were exposed to crude oil and dispersants. These people experienced acute physiological and behavioral symptoms and consulted a physician. They were diagnosed with petroleum hydrocarbon poisoning and had blood analyses analyzed for volatile organic compounds; samples were drawn 5-19 months after the spill had been capped. We examined the petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in the blood. The aromatic compounds m,p-xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, benzene, o-xylene, and styrene, and the alkanes hexane, 3-methylpentane, 2-methylpentane, and iso-octane were detected. Concentrations of the first four aromatics were not significantly different from US National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey/US National Institute of Standards and Technology 95th percentiles, indicating high concentrations of contaminants. The other two aromatics and the alkanes yielded equivocal results or significantly low concentrations. The data suggest that single-ring aromatic compounds are more persistent in the blood than alkanes and may be responsible for the observed symptoms. People should avoid exposure to crude oil through avoidance of the affected region, or utilizing hazardous materials suits if involved in cleanup, or wearing hazardous waste operations and emergency response suits if SCUBA diving. Concentrations of alkanes and PAHs in the blood of coastal residents and workers should be monitored through time well after the spill has been controlled.
authors.affiliation: Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), 8124 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344, USA. psammarco@lumcon.edu.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8362-617X
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Sammarco
authors.affiliation: EcoRigs Non-Profit Organization, 6765 Corporate Blvd., Suite 1207, Baton Rouge, LA, 70809, USA.
authors.forename: Stephan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kolian
authors.affiliation: The Warby Group LLC, 244 Park St B14, North Attleborough, MA, 02760, USA.
authors.forename: Richard A F
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Warby
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Ecotoxicology Research Facility, Arkansas State University, PO Box 599, State University, AR, 72467, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bouldin
authors.affiliation: Subra Company, Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN), and Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper, PO Box 9813, New Iberia, LA, 70562, USA.
authors.forename: Wilma A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Subra
authors.affiliation: Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), 8124 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344, USA.|EcoRigs Non-Profit Organization, 6765 Corporate Blvd., Suite 1207, Baton Rouge, LA, 70809, USA.|EcoLogic Environmental, Inc., PO Box 886, Houma, LA, 70361, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D060851:Gulf of America; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Alkanes; BP–Deepwater Horizon; Blood; Oil spill; PAH; VOC