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Concentrations in human blood of petroleum hydrocarbons associated with the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Gulf of Mexico

  • Analytical Toxicology
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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.

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Acknowledgments

We recognize and thank Dr. Michael Robichaux, M.D. for his sincere dedication to the health of his patients in the Gulf of Mexico region during this challenging period. We also thank him for making blood data available for statistical analysis within the study. We also thank Ms. Mary Lee Orr of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) for her support of the sample processing and also making the resultant data available for analysis by our team. Many thanks to M. Genazzio and D. Beltz who assisted with data analyses and graphics. Thanks as well to Ms. B. Wiseman—The Earth Organization; Mr. David Fa-Kouri—Louisiana Economic Foundation (LLC), and Principal Strategic Economist/Researcher, Strategic Consulting Group, Inc; and, Mr. Andrew Blanchard, Indian Ridge Shrimp Co., Chauvin, LA, USA for supplying the initial impetus for this and related studies of ours.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), 8124 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344, USA

    Paul W. Sammarco & Scott A. Porter

  2. EcoRigs Non-Profit Organization, 6765 Corporate Blvd., Suite 1207, Baton Rouge, LA, 70809, USA

    Stephan R. Kolian & Scott A. Porter

  3. The Warby Group LLC, 244 Park St B14, North Attleborough, MA, 02760, USA

    Richard A. F. Warby

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Ecotoxicology Research Facility, Arkansas State University, PO Box 599, State University, AR, 72467, USA

    Jennifer L. Bouldin

  5. Subra Company, Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN), and Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper, PO Box 9813, New Iberia, LA, 70562, USA

    Wilma A. Subra

  6. EcoLogic Environmental, Inc., PO Box 886, Houma, LA, 70361, USA

    Scott A. Porter

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  1. Paul W. Sammarco
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  2. Stephan R. Kolian
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  3. Richard A. F. Warby
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  4. Jennifer L. Bouldin
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  5. Wilma A. Subra
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  6. Scott A. Porter
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Correspondence to Paul W. Sammarco.

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Sammarco, P.W., Kolian, S.R., Warby, R.A.F. et al. Concentrations in human blood of petroleum hydrocarbons associated with the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Gulf of Mexico. Arch Toxicol 90, 829–837 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-015-1526-5

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