Calhoun County Public Health Department Fact Sheet about the Enbridge Oil Spill
Hotline Number for Enbridge Oil Spill Questions: (800) 306-6837
What is in the Oil?
The Enbridge oil spill contains heavy crude oil. Crude oil is a
mixture of different hydrogen- and carbon-based chemicals normally
called hydrocarbons. Because they are mixtures, different oils can be
harmful in different ways. The crude oil involved in this oil spill is
what is called heavy crude oil.
What is in the Air?
Over time, many of the compounds that make up these oil mixtures will
enter the air. The wind will then spread out these vapors over a
distance, lowering their concentration in any one area.
Based on what the Centers for Disease Controland
Prevention (CDC) reports about these chemicals and their previous
experiences with oil spills, the level of vapors in the air is expected
to be below the level that can hurt you. Tests of the air can tell us
more. These tests are being conducted at this time and will continue for
as long as necessary.
Strong
smells affect different people in different ways. Some people may
experience nausea, vomiting, or headaches. Leaving the area affected by
the smell should help to stop your symptoms, if the smell is
causingthem. If you have to be outside, a respirator with an odor
control feature may provide some relief from the smell.
Based on
what is known now, you do not need to use a respirator for your safety,
but using one may make you more comfortable.Most hardware stores stock
NIOSH-certified
N95 respirators with odor control or charcoal filter layers; check the
label to make sure the mask is an N95 respirator with odor control or an
N95 with a charcoal layer. Follow themanufacturer's instructions
carefully to be sure you are using the maskproperly. For now, if the
smell bothers you, stay indoors, close the doors and windows, and turn
on your central air conditioning. If you have a window air conditioner,
instead of a central unit, it may be better not to use the air
conditioner or to turn the settings to the recirculating mode, which closes the outside ventilation feature.
At
this time, evacuation is not considered necessary. However, the
situation is being closely monitored and if evacuation of any area is
required, you will be contacted by health authorities.
Can the oil harm my children?
Children
tend to be more sensitive than adults to oil and other forms of
pollution. What might be annoying to you could be a real problem for
them, particularly if your child is an infant or toddler, or has a pre-existing condition.
Like
adults, children should avoid contact with the oil. If some of the oil
gets on your children's bare skin, wash it off as soon as you can. Watch
your children carefully for rashes or dark, sticky spots on their skin
that are hard to wash off. If you see any of these symptoms, see your
doctor or other health care provider.
What to Expect?
People
can be exposed to hazardous substances related to the spill by
breathing them (air), by swallowing them (food or water), or by
touchingthem (skin). People should avoid close contact to the spill and
fumes from any burning oil.
Air Quality:
Smell:
People may be able to smell the oil spill. Exposure to low levelsmof
these chemicals may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and
skin. People with asthma or other lung diseases may be more sensitive
tothese effects. These people should attempt to limit exposure to these
vapors. If you smell gas or see smoke or know that fires are nearby,
stay indoors, set your air conditioner to reuse indoor air, and avoid
physical activities that put extra demands on your lungs and heart.
Food:
The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are monitoring the
oil spill and its potential impact on the safety of fish harvested from
the area. CDC will continue to work closely with the FDA to monitor food
safety and will notify the public of any potential hazards.
Water:
Based on current findings, drinking water and household water from water wells is not expected to be affected by the spill.
Water
tests are being conducted at this time and will continue for as long as
necessary. Municipal water is not affected by the oil. However, water
used for
recreation may be affected. Swimming in water contaminated with chemicals from the oil spill could cause health effects.
The Kalamazoo
River water is not to be used for drinking by any animal or for irrigation.
What should I do if I see animals that have been exposed to the oil?
Individuals
should not attempt to approach, rescue, or contain any animals exposed
to the oil. Attempts to capture animals may cause injury to both the
animal and the rescuer.
A trained rescuer will
respond to your call. Please be patient.
Updated: 7/27/2010 7:05 PM
Calhoun County Public Health Department
190 E. Michigan Avenue, Suite A100
Battle Creek, Michigan 49014
Tel: (269) 969-6371
Fax: (269) 969-6488
Fact Sheet provided by the Calhoun County Public Health Department
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PLUS: Corexit used at wellhead in Gulf.
SAFETY DATA SHEET
Exposure guidelines have not been established for this product.
CONDITIONS TO AVOID : Extremes of temperature
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS : Under fire conditions: Oxides of carbon
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What You Need To Know About The Company Behind The Michigan Oil Spill - Jul. 30, 2010, 9:03 AM
Read more:
www.businessinsider.com/enbridge-kalamazoo-oil-spill-2010-7?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheMoneyGame+%28The+Money+Game%29&utm_content=Google+International#ixzz0vAzWCmGt~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enbridge pipeline leaking oil into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River
July 27 2010
Workers in Battle Creek, Mich., are frantically trying to clean up more than three million litres of oil from an Enbridge pipeline that has been spilling into the Kalamazoo River since Monday morning. [July 26 2010]
www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/enbridge-pipeline-leaking-oil-into-michigans-kalamazoo-river/article1654100/