Macondo oil in northern Gulf of Mexico waters – Part 2: Dispersant-accelerated PAH dissolution in the Deepwater Horizon plume

April 30, 2018

Click to view the full study.  Abstract During the Deepwater Horizon blowout, unprecedented volumes of dispersant were applied both on the surface and at depth. Application at depth was intended to disperse the oil into smaller microdroplets that would increase biodegradation and also reduce the volumes buoyantly rising to the surface, thereby reducing surface exposures, recovery efforts,…

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The Development of Long-Term Adverse Health Effects in Oil Spill Cleanup Workers of the Deepwater Horizon Offshore Drilling Rig Disaster (Frontiers in Public Health)

April 26, 2018

“Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term adverse health effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Gulf oil spill exposure in workers who participated in its cleanup work. Methods: Medical charts of both the oil spill exposed and unexposed subjects were reviewed. The changes in the white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine,…

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Macondo oil in northern Gulf of Mexico waters – Part 1: Assessments and forensic methods for Deepwater Horizon offshore water samples

April 20, 2018

Click here to view the full study.   Abstract Forensic chemistry assessments documented the presence of Macondo (MC252) oil from the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) spill in offshore water samples collected under Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) protocols. In ocean depths, oiled water was sampled, observed, photographed, and tracked in dissolved oxygen (DO) and fluorometry profiles. Chemical analyses, sensor records,…

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Oil Spills and Dispersants Can Cause the Initiation of Potentially Harmful Dinoflagellate Blooms (“Red Tides”) (by ACS Publications)

April 16, 2018

“After oil spills and dispersant applications the formation of red tides or harmful algal blooms (HABs) has been observed, which can cause additional negative impacts in areas affected by oil spills. However, the link between oil spills and HABs is still unknown. Here, we present experimental evidence that demonstrates a connection between oil spills and…

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A laboratory study of particulate and gaseous emissions from crude oil and crude oil-dispersant contaminated seawater due to breaking waves

April 5, 2018

Click here to view the full study.  Abstract Crude oil spill incidents occur frequently causing a verity of occupational, ecological and environmental problems. Dispersants are applied to enhance the dispersion rate of crude oil slicks into the water column. In this study, the aerosol size distribution from 10 nm to 20 μm, total particle-bound aromatic hydrocarbons (pPAH) and volatile…

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The human health risk estimation of inhaled oil spill emissions with and without adding dispersant

March 1, 2018

Click here to view study  Abstract Airborne toxic compounds emitted from polluted seawater polluted after an oil spill raise health concerns when inhaled by humans or other species. Inhalation of these toxic compounds as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or airborne fine particulate matter (PM) may cause serious pulmonary diseases, including lung cancer. Spraying chemical dispersants to enhance…

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The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Coast Guard Cohort study (BMJ Journals)

February 15, 2018

“We found positive associations between crude oil exposure and various acute physical symptoms among responders, as well as longer-term health effects. This cohort is well-positioned to evaluate both short-term and long-term effects of oil spill exposures using both self-reported and clinical health data.”   Read the full study here 

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