Results of a workshop on health effects of crude oil exposures related to Operation Desert Storm. Final report 14-15 Feb 91
On 14 and 15 February 1991, a workshop was held to identify the potential health effects of crude oil exposures as they might occur in the field under combat situations. The most significant findings and recommendations of the workshop were: If at all possible, stay out of refineries, petrochemical plants, terminal facilities, desalinization plants and other related facilities due to the extremely high inherent hazards presented by the chemicals that may be present. No significant acute medical problems were identified with skin contact with crude oil, nor were problems foreseen with most aspects of casualty care. Prolonged contact may, however, result in an impairment of physical performance due to the weight of soaked clothing, the odor (nauseating to some), increased heat stress from decreased sweating, and such. Troops should be warned not to use solvents such as gasoline, diesel fuel, or kerosene to remove the oil, because the resulting defatting of the skin will make them more prone to dermatitis, secondary skin infections, and increased absorption of chemical warfare (CW) agents. Exposure to the plumes from burning oil fields was judged to be at least as hazardous as similar exposures from other fossil fuel fires or forest fires, in that the primary effects would be eye and nasal irritation and smoke inhalation.
- Research Organization:
- ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc., Dayton, OH (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 7232718
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-250663/2/XAB; CNN: F33615-90-C-0532
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
MILITARY PERSONNEL
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PETROLEUM
HEALTH HAZARDS
ABSORPTION
CLOTHING
COMBUSTION
DERMATITIS
DESALINATION PLANTS
DIESEL FUELS
FOSSIL FUELS
GASOLINE
INHALATION
IRAQ
KEROSENE
OIL FIELDS
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PLUMES
SOLVENTS
TERMINAL FACILITIES
THERMAL STRESSES
TOXIC MATERIALS
WARFARE
WATER
ANIMALS
ASIA
CHEMICAL PLANTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISEASES
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
GAS OILS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INTAKE
LIQUID FUELS
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MIDDLE EAST
MINERAL RESOURCES
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PRIMATES
RESOURCES
SKIN DISEASES
SORPTION
STRESSES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VERTEBRATES
020600* - Petroleum- Health & Safety
450000 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense