Assessing the Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health

Assessing the Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309161142
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 201

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Book Description
From the origin of the leak, to the amount of oil released into the environment, to the spill's duration, the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill poses unique challenges to human health. The risks associated with extensive, prolonged use of dispersants, with oil fumes, and with particulate matter from controlled burns are also uncertain. There have been concerns about the extent to which hazards, such as physical and chemical exposures and social and economic disruptions, will impact the overall health of people who live and work near the area of the oil spill. Although studies of previous oil spills provide some basis for identifying and mitigating the human health effects of these exposures, the existing data are insufficient to fully understand and predict the overall impact of hazards from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the health of workers, volunteers, residents, visitors, and special populations. Assessing the Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health identifies populations at increased risks for adverse health effects and explores effective communication strategies to convey health information to these at-risk populations. The book also discusses the need for appropriate surveillance systems to monitor the spill's potential short- and long-term health effects on affected communities and individuals. Assessing the Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health is a useful resource that can help policy makers, public health officials, academics, community advocates, scientists, and members of the public collaborate to create a monitoring and surveillance system that results in "actionable" information and that identifies emerging health risks in specific populations.

Assessing the Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health

Assessing the Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309161142
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 201

Get Book Here

Book Description
From the origin of the leak, to the amount of oil released into the environment, to the spill's duration, the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill poses unique challenges to human health. The risks associated with extensive, prolonged use of dispersants, with oil fumes, and with particulate matter from controlled burns are also uncertain. There have been concerns about the extent to which hazards, such as physical and chemical exposures and social and economic disruptions, will impact the overall health of people who live and work near the area of the oil spill. Although studies of previous oil spills provide some basis for identifying and mitigating the human health effects of these exposures, the existing data are insufficient to fully understand and predict the overall impact of hazards from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the health of workers, volunteers, residents, visitors, and special populations. Assessing the Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health identifies populations at increased risks for adverse health effects and explores effective communication strategies to convey health information to these at-risk populations. The book also discusses the need for appropriate surveillance systems to monitor the spill's potential short- and long-term health effects on affected communities and individuals. Assessing the Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health is a useful resource that can help policy makers, public health officials, academics, community advocates, scientists, and members of the public collaborate to create a monitoring and surveillance system that results in "actionable" information and that identifies emerging health risks in specific populations.

The Use of Dispersants in Marine Oil Spill Response

The Use of Dispersants in Marine Oil Spill Response PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309478219
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 341

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Book Description
Whether the result of an oil well blowout, vessel collision or grounding, leaking pipeline, or other incident at sea, each marine oil spill will present unique circumstances and challenges. The oil type and properties, location, time of year, duration of spill, water depth, environmental conditions, affected biomes, potential human community impact, and available resources may vary significantly. Also, each spill may be governed by policy guidelines, such as those set forth in the National Response Plan, Regional Response Plans, or Area Contingency Plans. To respond effectively to the specific conditions presented during an oil spill, spill responders have used a variety of response optionsâ€"including mechanical recovery of oil using skimmers and booms, in situ burning of oil, monitored natural attenuation of oil, and dispersion of oil by chemical dispersants. Because each response method has advantages and disadvantages, it is important to understand specific scenarios where a net benefit may be achieved by using a particular tool or combination of tools. This report builds on two previous National Research Council reports on dispersant use to provide a current understanding of the state of science and to inform future marine oil spill response operations. The response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill included an unprecedented use of dispersants via both surface application and subsea injection. The magnitude of the spill stimulated interest and funding for research on oil spill response, and dispersant use in particular. This study assesses the effects and efficacy of dispersants as an oil spill response tool and evaluates trade-offs associated with dispersant use.

In Deep Water

In Deep Water PDF Author: Peter Lehner
Publisher: OR Books
ISBN: 1935928090
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 174

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Book Description
"First published by OR Books LLC, New York"--T.p. verso.

Deep Water: The Gulf Oil Disaster and the Future of Offshore Drilling: Report to the President, January 2011

Deep Water: The Gulf Oil Disaster and the Future of Offshore Drilling: Report to the President, January 2011 PDF Author: National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Dril
Publisher: Government Printing Office
ISBN: 9780160873720
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 400

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Book Description
On April 20, 2010, the Macondo well blew out, costing the lives of 11 men, and beginning a catastrophe that sank the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and spilled nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The spill disrupted an entire region’s economy, damaged fisheries and critical habitats, and brought vividly to light the risks of deepwater drilling for oil and gas—the latest frontier in the national energy supply. Soon after, President Barack Obama appointed a seven-member Commission to investigate the disaster, analyze its causes and effects, and recommend the actions necessary to minimize such risks in the future. The Commission’s report offers the American public and policymakers alike the fullest account available of what happened in the Gulf and why, and proposes actions—changes in company behavior, reform of government oversight, and investments in research and technology—required as industry moves forward to meet the nation’s energy needs.

Oil in the Sea III

Oil in the Sea III PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309084385
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 278

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Book Description
Since the early 1970s, experts have recognized that petroleum pollutants were being discharged in marine waters worldwide, from oil spills, vessel operations, and land-based sources. Public attention to oil spills has forced improvements. Still, a considerable amount of oil is discharged yearly into sensitive coastal environments. Oil in the Sea provides the best available estimate of oil pollutant discharge into marine waters, including an evaluation of the methods for assessing petroleum load and a discussion about the concerns these loads represent. Featuring close-up looks at the Exxon Valdez spill and other notable events, the book identifies important research questions and makes recommendations for better analysis ofâ€"and more effective measures againstâ€"pollutant discharge. The book discusses: Inputâ€"where the discharges come from, including the role of two-stroke engines used on recreational craft. Behavior or fateâ€"how oil is affected by processes such as evaporation as it moves through the marine environment. Effectsâ€"what we know about the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on marine organisms and ecosystems. Providing a needed update on a problem of international importance, this book will be of interest to energy policy makers, industry officials and managers, engineers and researchers, and advocates for the marine environment.

Deep Oil Spills

Deep Oil Spills PDF Author: Steven A. Murawski
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3030116050
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 617

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Book Description
The demand for oil and gas has brought exploration and production to unprecedented depths of the world’s oceans. Currently, over 50% of the oil from the Gulf of Mexico now comes from waters in excess of 1,500 meters (one mile) deep, where no oil was produced just 20 years ago. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill blowout did much to change the perception of oil spills as coming just from tanker accidents, train derailments, and pipeline ruptures. In fact, beginning with the Ixtoc 1 spill off Campeche, Mexico in 1979-1980, there have been a series of large spill events originating at the sea bottom and creating a myriad of new environmental and well control challenges. This volume explores the physics, chemistry, sub-surface oil deposition and environmental impacts of deep oil spills. Key lessons learned from the responses to previous deep spills, as well as unresolved scientific questions for additional research are highlighted, all of which are appropriate for governmental regulators, politicians, industry decision-makers, first responders, researchers and students wanting an incisive overview of issues surrounding deep-water oil and gas production.

On Scene Coordinator Report

On Scene Coordinator Report PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill, 2010
Languages : en
Pages : 244

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Book Description
"The purpose of this report is to document the response to the oil spill that resulted from the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon mobile offshore drilling unit on April 20, 2010. On scene coordinator report, Deepwater Horizon oil spill, submitted to the National Response Team, September 2010. On November 18, 2010, the National Response Team (NRT) requested submission of an On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) report for the Deepwater Horizon spill to the NRT Response Committee, pursuant to the National Contingency Plan (NCP). The NART's request listed 33 specific topics be addressed in the report. The list of specific topics addressed in the report expanded to 56 to cover additional focus areas of the Federal On-Scene Coordinators (FOSCs)"--Executive summary.

Research Priorities for Assessing Health Effects from the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

Research Priorities for Assessing Health Effects from the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309177030
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 29

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Book Description
It is as yet uncertain how the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will affect the health of clean-up workers and volunteers, residents, and visitors in the Gulf. The IOM recommends that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services focus on researching psychological and behavioral health, exposure information to oil and dispersants, seafood safety, communication methods for health studies, and methods for conducting research in order to better understand and mitigate the effects on human health for this oil spill and for future disasters.

Understanding Oil Spills and Oil Spill Response

Understanding Oil Spills and Oil Spill Response PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Oil pollution of water
Languages : en
Pages : 60

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Book Description


Building Community Resilience to Large Oil Spills

Building Community Resilience to Large Oil Spills PDF Author: Melissa L. Finucane
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781977405357
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 79

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Book Description
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill was the largest in U.S. history, releasing an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The scale of the disaster motivated diverse stakeholders to examine the human dimensions of the spill and how communities' resilience to similar threats could be improved. This examination is needed because, as long as humans depend on extracting oil and gas for energy, coastal regions are at risk for spills. In this report, the authors explore how communities, government officials, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and scientists can build community resilience to large oil spills. Researchers found mixed evidence of distress associated with the DWH disaster and a variety of factors that affected the nature and severity of people's experiences.