Dangerous and cancer causing properties of products and chemicals in the oil refining and petrochemical industry .6. Carcinogenicity and environmental hazards of crude oil, gasoline, and its components

The accidental Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989 was the third largest such spill in the world. The magnitude of the Alaskan spill follows Iraq's in Kuwait in 1991 and Mobil Oil Corporation's slow spill into the waters surrounding Brooklyn, New York (Kolbert, 1990). Manville (1991) reported that the harm to fish, wildlife, and the environment from the Exxon Valdez oil spill is of potentially catastrophic dimensions (see also Holusha, 1991; Schneider, 1991a; b), and its ecological and environmental consequences may be felt for decades to come. In addition, Manville cites Exxon as saying that ''oil is nontoxic'', a claim that is based on Exxon-sponsored reports conducted by British scientists Baker et al. (1990). These claims are specious and are contrary to currently available scientific data, including recent studies by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1989, cited in Manville, 1991). The magnitude of Exxon's catastrophic 1989 spill, their efforts to clean it up, and the effect of the spill on wildlife is described by Manville (1991) and by authors herein. In previous publications, the consumption, uses, and cancerous effects of fossil fuels were described (Mehlman 1990, 1991a; b). This paper will discuss the scientific data supporting the carcinogenicity of crude petroleum and its products, and it will describe other serious health effects that can result from exposure to petroleum products. It will highlight the dangerous effects resulting from exposure to and contact with oil and other petrochemical products, effects that must be taken into consideration during any use of these products or oil spill clean-up effort.