An overview of exposure to, and effects of, petroleum oil and organochlorine pollution in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus)

Most incidences involving oil pollution of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) seem to have occurred at the breeding sites. Because of the high concentration of animals at this time, even small oil spills will pollute many animals. As a result of chronic low-level pollution from coastal ship traffic and discharges from offshore petroleum activity in the North Sea, approximately 50% of the grey seal pups at the largest breeding colony in Norway are polluted each year by oil. In this case, as well as in other similar cases of spills at breeding colonies, oil has produced little visible disturbance to the seals behaviour and there has been little mortality. The effects and mortality may, however, be more serious following a spill of crude oil, where animals may be affected by inhalation of toxic volatile compounds. High body burdens of PCBs and DDTs seem to have caused skull-bone lesions and occlusions of the uteri in grey seals in the Baltic Sea. Exposure to these persistent compounds has also been suspected to be the cause of reduction in the population of Baltic grey seals. There are indications that thyroid hormone and vitamin A status of grey seal pups are affected by the low exposure concentrations experienced at the Norwegian coast (approximately 1/20 of the concentration detected in grey seal pups from the Baltic Sea). This gives serious cause for concern about the effects that chronic low-level exposure to persistent organochlorine pollutants may have on individuals and on populations of grey seals.

The impact of the 1993 Braer oil spill on grey seals in Shetland

Signs of acute respiratory distress were reported in moulting grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) hauled out on Lady's Holm, Shetland, following the Braer oil spill in January, 1993. Behavioural observations carried out between 16 January and 13 February 1993 showed that the proportion of animals exhibiting a discharge of nasal mucus was significantly higher than the proportion at a control site in the north (Papa Stour). The proportion of animals affected on Lady's Holm increased for up to one month following the spill. However, the time lag between exposure and peak response was approximately 30 days, longer than may be expected for an acute effect. The proportion of non-specific signs of respiratory distress in unexposed Shetland seals was assessed from observations made between 16 January and 25 January 1994. Symptoms similar to those seen in 1993 were also reported during this period, but the proportion of affected animals was higher in 1993. Symptoms were not observed at a grey seal moult site on the east coast of England in March 1993 and 1994. Grey seals moulting in Shetland during the time of the oil spill may have been acutely affected by exposure to hydrocarbons, but without sufficient baseline data on the occurrence of respiratory distress in grey seals it is difficult to determine the proportion attributable to other causes.

Lithium toxicosis in a cow

A case of lithium toxicosis is described in a cow that had consumed grease. Clinical signs included increased salivation, ataxia, reduced consciousness, seizures and diarrhea. No treatment was instituted. The grease did not contain high concentrations of other heavy metals or minerals.

Toxicopathology of oilfield poisoning in cattle: a review

The toxicologic pathology of petroleum and oilfield-related chemicals is reviewed, and a field guide for toxicopathologic evaluation of cattle is given. Cattle will voluntarily ingest petroleum and chemicals used in the exploration, production and transportation of crude petroleum. Variability in chemical composition of petroleum from different fields will alter the type and severity of lesions observed. When airborne pollutants are present, cattle are continually exposed and make excellent sentinel animals. The lung, kidney, liver, gastrointestinal tract, heart and brain are target organs for petroleum hydrocarbons. Exposure to elemental sulfur can produce pulmonary pathology. Sulfur-containing gases are irritating to the mucosa of the eye and respiratory tract. Arsenic and lead cause lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, brain, liver and kidney. Glycols are hepato-, nephro- and neurotoxic, and oral exposure to diethylene glycol produces corneal lesions. Invert drilling fluids are fetotoxic. Nonpesticide organophosphate esters target the peripheral and central nervous systems. Toxicopathy is a strategic tool in the diagnosis of intoxications occurring in cattle after exposure to oilfield chemicals. Cattle are sensitive to oilfield pollutants and are a useful biomonitoring species.

Toxicology of oil field pollutants in cattle: a review

Cattle are poisoned by petroleum and substances used in drilling and operating oil and gas wells. The most common reported route of exposure for non-gaseous material is oral. Exposures occur when the petroleum or chemicals used in oil and gas field activities are available to cattle and when water and feed-stuffs are contaminated. Cattle, as a leisure activity, explore and ingest crude oil. Based on morbidity patterns in cattle herds, the amount of toxic substance ingested is variable. When water and feedstuffs are contaminated, a larger number in a herd generally are affected. Cattle have been poisoned by a wide variety of chemical mixtures. For substances high in volatile hydrocarbons, the lung is a target organ. Hydrocarbons also target the kidney, liver and brain. Exposure-linked abortions have been reported in cattle. Diethylene glycol targets the brain, liver and kidney. The reported threshold dose of unweathered oil for cattle ranges from 2.5 to 5.0 ml/kg bw, and the reported threshold dose for weathered oil is 8.0 ml/kg.

Prevalence of abnormal neurobehavioral scores in populations exposed to different industrial chemicals

The aim of the study is to establish the prevalence of neurobehavioral scores of occupationally exposed subjects below the 10th percentile rank of normalized curves obtained on a referent population. The Milan Automated Neurobehavioral System (MANS) was administered to 400 drivers from public and private firms; their data were distributed on the basis of age and years of school attendance and were normalized by determining percentile rank equivalence. The exposed population is made up of 20 lead- and zinc-exposed subjects, 18 welders exposed to aluminum for less than 1 year, 150 exposed to different metals in the ferromanganese production, 73 lithographic operators exposed to gasoline and petroleum, 197 exposed to solvents mixtures in the paint manufacture, and 23 dropouts of the same firm. The percentages of scores below 10th percentile rank were calculated in the different exposure groups and in the different age-school attendance ranges. The prevalence of results below the 10th percentile rank was found to be related to the intensity of the exposures and to the low levels of school attendance. In the 20-29 and the 30-39 age ranges, there was a prevalence of POMS scale scores below 10th percentile rank, in the 50-59 age range, the percentages were high for the Digit Symbol, the mean value of Simple Reaction Time, Serial Digit Learning, and Benton Visual Recognition.

Health effects of tank cleaners

A total of 29 tank cleaners and 31 referent controls participated in the study. In most cases, the tank cleaners were employed in small companies, usually specialized subcontractors such as firms only working in refineries cleaning oil tanks and handling oil spills. The air concentrations of hydrocarbons (HCs) in tanks containing residuals from heavy fuel oil were generally low, unless the oil was still warm. Addition of light fuel oil to facilitate the cleaning of tanks containing viscous, heavy fuel oils resulted in total airborne HC levels of 1000-1500 mg/m3. High levels of HC were measured in tanks with low-boiling petroleum fractions (naphtha and light fuel oils) of 1000-2600 mg/m3 (maximum). Today, most cleaners use air-supplied respirators or air-purifying respirator cartridges inside tanks with petroleum products or other chemicals. The exception is small firms handling fuel oils for heating purposes where only 50% of the workers use protective equipment regularly; the other workers only occasionally use protective equipment even if the air concentrations of HC are high. Protective equipment is rarely used in small, domestic tanks. Measurements of heart rate showed that tank cleaning is, at times, a highly strenuous job. No differences between tank cleaners and controls were found with respect to spirometry, liver enzymes, or frequency of micronuclei. Acute intoxications were not frequently reported in this group. However, this investigation may underestimate the true risk, as it is a cross-sectional study that found that exposures were highly variable, both quantitatively and qualitatively. In many cases, the tank cleaners knew very little about the potential hazards or the proper use of protective equipment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Investigating oiled birds from oil field waste pits

Procedures and results of investigations concerning the oiling of inland raptors, migratory water-fowl and other birds are presented. Freon washings from the oiled birds and oil from the pits were analyzed by gas chromatography. In most instances the source of the oil could be established by chromatographic procedures. The numbers of birds involved (including many on the endangered species list) suggested the need for netting or closing oil field waste pits and mud disposal pits. Maintaining a proper chain of custody was important.

Livestock poisoning from oil field drilling fluids, muds and additives

The use and potential toxicity of various components of oil well drilling fluids, muds and additives are presented. Many components are extremely caustic resulting in rumenitis. Solvent and petroleum hydrocarbon components may cause aspiration pneumonia and rumen dysfunction. Some additives cause methemoglobinemia. The most frequently encountered heavy metals are lead, chromium, arsenic, lithium and copper. Considerations for investigating livestock poisoning cases and several typical cases are reviewed.

Death following crude oil aspiration

This is a report on three deaths following oil aspiration by workers in petrol tankers. Lung aspiration was demonstrated by the presence of a yellowish-brown material in the alveolar spaces, which was difficult to identify by optic microscopy. Volatile hydrocarbons from petroleum were identified in lung samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

New therapy for hydrocarbon pneumonitis--nasal prongs continuous positive airway pressure (NPCPAP)

Respiratory failure and conscious disturbance developed in a 18-month-old girl following ingestion of an unknown quantity of spot remover solution, a petroleum distillate product. Rapid deterioration was noted within 2 hours after ingestion. The patient became stable in condition and dramatically improved through intensive care with respiratory support by using nasal prongs continuous positive airway pressure (NPCPAP). To our knowledge, this may be the first case being successfully managed with this technique.

Mis-swallowing of cleaning naphtha: report of three cases

Cleaning naphtha, a product of Chinese Petroleum Corporation, is a complex hydrocarbon mixture which contains mainly aliphatic hydrocarbons. It is used as a cleaning fluid and solvent. Three toddlers mis-swallowed a mouth of cleaning naphtha accidentally. One developed multiple organ failure before death, another completely recovered without sequelae, and the other died very soon after mis-swallowing. Two fatal cases were both induced vomiting with aspiration immediately after mis-swallowing by their parents. Therefore, inducing vomiting should not be encouraged especially at home, and prevention of aspiration is very important in the management of such cases.

Mortality study of Canadian male farm operators: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma mortality and agricultural practices in Saskatchewan

A cohort study of the mortality experience (1971-1985) of male Saskatchewan farmers has been conducted. This study involved linkage of records of the almost 70,000 male farmers identified on the 1971 Census of Agriculture and the corresponding Census of Population to mortality records. Pesticide exposure indices for individual farm operators for the year 1970 were derived from the 1971 Census of Agriculture records. Although the cohort as a whole had no excess mortality for any specific causes of death, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, significant dose-response relationships were noted between risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and acres sprayed in 1970 with herbicides, as well as with dollars spent on fuel and oil for farm purposes in 1970. Using Poisson regression modeling, we found that relative risks for the highest level of herbicide use (greater than or equal to 250 acres sprayed) and fuel purchased in 1970 (greater than or equal to $900) on farms less than 1,000 acres total area were 2.2 (95% confidence interval = 1.0-4.6) and 2.3 (95% confidence interval = 1.1-4.7), respectively.

Immolation after drinking kerosene

An unusual suicide is described in which analysis of circulating kerosene components at autopsy suggested that the victim had drunk kerosene and then had poured it over his body, ignited it, and burned to death.

Toxicology of oil field wastes. Hazards to livestock associated with the petroleum industry

In oil-producing states, the proximity of livestock to drilling operations and production sites often results in poisoning of animals from ingestion of crude oil, condensate, salt water, heavy metals, and caustic chemicals. The heavy metals encountered most frequently are lead from pipe joint compound and arsenicals and chromates used as corrosion inhibitors. Numerous toxic and caustic chemicals are used in drilling muds and fluids. Crude oil and salt water spills are common occurrences around production sites. Pipeline breaks may result in exposure of livestock to crude oil or refined petroleum hydrocarbons. Ingestion of petroleum hydrocarbons may result in sudden death from peracute bloat. The most common cause of illness or death following exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons is aspiration pneumonia, which may cause a chronic progressive deterioration of health, with death after several days or weeks. Cases in which livestock are exposed to oil, salt water, or caustic chemicals, but do not die acutely or from aspiration pneumonia are more frustrating to diagnose. In these cases, parasitism, poor nutrition, and other debilitating diseases must be considered. Anorexia, weight loss, and decreased rumen motility may be caused by a disruption of normal rumen function. Petroleum hydrocarbons, salt water, and caustic chemicals have the potential of altering rumen flora and enzymatic processes as well as damaging the ruminal and gastrointestinal epithelium. The toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons appears to be related more closely to the volatility and viscosity of the product than to other factors. The more volatile straight chain and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons have a greater potential for aspiration pneumonia and may produce an anesthetic-like action if absorbed systemically. The more volatile petroleum hydrocarbons also are more irritating to skin and mucous membranes and appear to be more damaging to rumen flora. Treatment of petroleum hydrocarbon ingestion is aimed at preventing aspiration pneumonia and the animal's absorption of highly volatile components. Activated charcoal slurries and, in some instances, vegetable oil may be used to absorb the ingested petroleum or alter its viscosity to minimize absorption and aspiration. These procedures should be followed by the administration of rumenatories or saline cathartics to hasten the evacuation of the gastrointestinal tract. Chronic poor performance animals with anorexia and rumen dysfunction may respond to fresh rumen inoculant, intravenous glucose, and B-complex vitamins. Prognosis primarily hinges on whether or not aspiration pneumonia has occurred. Treatment of aspiration pneumonia rarely is effe

Impairment of organ function after oral ingestion of refined petrol

After oral ingestion of 600 ml of refined petrol a 23-year-old male developed multiple organ failure. Acute renal insufficiency due to nephrotoxic tubular necrosis requiring hemodialysis was a major manifestation. Moreover, respiratory failure, seizures, hemolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, liver damage and erosions of mucous membranes occurred. The patient subsequently recovered completely. In spite of the poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and the high first-pass effect in the liver, massive petrol intoxication may lead to reversible multisystemic lesions.

Skin bullae following kerosene poisoning

Two cases of skin bullae formation after accidental ingestion of kerosene are presented. This is an uncommon complication of kerosene poisoning and a probable mechanism of their occurrence is discussed.