RE:  The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Cleanup   

...  EXXON / VECO would say that all the coughing in the sleeping quarters was no more than what would happen because of close-to-other-people exposures...

 flu, you know.

  

The real truth is that these people were mostly chemically overexposed... early on.  

What 3 workers (Inipol EAP 22 'fellows') who were there have to share:  *

 

How to tell the difference between chemical poisoning from Inipol EAP 22 

(or the poison of 2-butoxyethanol in it) C6H14O2/CH3(CH2)2CH2OCH2CH2OH

and the crude oil itself  *

Symptoms of overexposure to solvents.... in general...

(most common first) include: headache, sore throat, voice change or loss, constant humph, catarrh,

  unexpected tiredness, 

fatigue,  * another's story

sore/watery/gritty eyes, 

irritability, anxietydepression,*  loss of concentration, short-term memory loss,  

reactions to other chemicals,  *

dizziness

blocked nose, rhinitis, mouth ulcers, bad/metallic taste in mouth, lip sores, chest tightness, shortness of breath, chest pains, asthma, sinusitis, nasal discharge, nose bleeds, ulceration of nasal mucosa, itchy burning skin, rashes, dermatitis, aching joints and muscles, fibromyalgia, uncontrollable twitching, heart arrhythmia's, palpitations, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, tinnitus, earache, pins and needles, numbness in fingers and toes, Raynaud’s Syndrome, menstrual irregularities, pain/difficulty urinating. Other areas of concern include liver damage, cancer, teeth and gum problems, reproductive effects and lack of interest in sex.

Studies on Central Nervous System affected by solvent exposures:  http://www.whis.nzl.org/snftaas/pt17.html

__________________________________________________________

 Information on 2-butoxyethanol, via the web: Here are the  urls:
 International Chemical safety card: 
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcs/ipcs0059.html  a brief summation here:

2-BUTOXYETHANOL ICSC: 0059
2-BUTOXYETHANOL
Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether
Monobutyl glycol ether
C6H14O2/CH3(CH2)2CH2OCH2CH2OH
Molecular mass: 118.2
CAS # 111-76-2
RTECS # KJ8575000
ICSC # 0059
UN # 2369
EC # 603-014-00-0
ENVIRONMENTAL
DATA
This substance may be hazardous to the environment; special attention should be given to the water environment and aquifer. (How to test water?)
Comments MSDS of 2-butoxyethanol :  "DANGER! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED, INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN. CAUSES EYE IRRITATION. AFFECTS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, BLOOD AND BLOOD-FORMING ORGANS, KIDNEYS, LIVER AND LYMPHOID SYSTEM. COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID AND VAPOR. MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO SKIN AND RESPIRATORY TRACT."  Material Safety Data Sheet, etc*  

Note:  What is the most minimum exposure that could cause such?

EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE: 
The substance irritates the eyes, the skin, and the respiratory tract

Exposure could cause central nervous system depression 

and liver and kidney damage.


NOTE:  with daily urinalyses testing, how could exposures be allowed to reach this point?
EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM OR REPEATED EXPOSURE:
The liquid defats the skin.  

The substance may have effects on the haematopoietic system , 

resulting in blood disorders.

 

such as *hemolytic anemia; and kidney damage (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 1998).  

* hemolytic anemia in this case would be premature destruction of red blood cells caused by chemical poisoning

Also check  http://www.who.int/pcs/cicad.summaries/cicad_10.htm
 

and a 50-page document from the World Health Organization:

http://www.inchem.org/documents/cicads/cicads/cicad10.htm

 

Locate more information on 2-butoxyethanol

a 10-12% by weight component of inipol EAP 22 (a surfactant)

from  website:  www.valdezlink.com/inipol/pages/table.htm

  These workers need to be found & helped *

*From  WHO  (via Toxins Awareness Group):  paint solvents (such as 2-butoxyethanol) are carcinogenic, painters having a 40% higher chance of  lung cancer and 20% higher of stomach, bladder, larynx, etc cancers, 

while their children are at increased risk of leukaemia and brain tumours.

Contact * regarding Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Cleanup Workers

    to abbreviated web contents - Exxon Valdez Oil Spill -  workers