Some of the damage that resulted from the BP oil spill was caused by the dispersant that was applied to the oil spill, and not by the oil itself. One dispersant, in particular, Corexit, has been banned from use in Europe since 1998 because it is highly toxic. Over two million gallons of various types of Corexit were put onto the surface of the Gulf of Mexico and pumped deep under the water after the spill, exposing many people and a large area of the natural environment to the substance.
One of the forms of Corexit used at the BP spill, Corexit 9527A, contains the toxin 2-Butoxyethanol. This substance has been linked to injury to red blood cells, kidneys and the liver in individuals who have had repeated or excessive exposure to it. The forms of Corexit that were used on the BP oil spill are more toxic and less effective than other dispersants that are available for use.
In addition to the aforementioned types of injuries, the health effects of Corexit on human health are serious. Exposure to oil and dispersants has been shown to increase the incidence of psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis are just a couple of the conditions that have been found in people who were exposed to the oil and dispersants. Unfortunately, some of the health concerns that exposed individuals are experiencing place them at risk for even greater harm.
For example, researchers have recently discovered a connection between psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and osteoporotic fractures. Adults who have severe psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis appear to be more than twice as likely as people without those conditions to fracture one or more vertebrae, which leads researchers to believe that those people are at greater risk for all kinds of osteoporotic fractures.
Osteoporotic fractures are bone fractures associated with low bone mineral density. Spine, forearm, hip, and shoulders are the most vulnerable areas for these fractures, which occur when forces that wouldn’t normally cause a fracture do in fact fracture the bone because of low bone mineral density.
Many people were exposed to varying amounts of Corexit after the BP oil spill, either from encountering it on the shoreline while walking on the beach, participating in cleanup efforts or by some other method of exposure. The amount of exposure varied from person to person, and it depended on both the type of exposure and length of exposure, as well as how much protective equipment if any, each person was wearing when they were interacting with the oil and dispersants. For example, almost all cleanup workers wore gloves, but only some of the cleanup workers wore masks.
Barrett Law PLLC: Helping Mississippi Residents Recover from the BP Oil Spill
The BP oil spill caused a variety of health problems for residents of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. While some of the health effects were temporary, many people suffer from long-term health effects from the BP oil spill. If you experience health problems in connection with exposure to oil and dispersants from the BP oil spill, the Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC may be able to help you. Call us today at 1 (601) 790-1505, to set up a free, initial consultation.
