Government Response to the BP Oil Spill
Odors from the BP Spill
June 2010
View up-to-date information on air quality along the Gulf Coast at http://www.epa.gov/bpspill
Residents of the Gulf Coast are concerned about odors from the BP oil spill and whether they are harmful
to breathe. Some residents along the coast report smelling odors, and experiencing eye, nose, or throat
irritation, nausea, or headaches.
EPA and CDC are concerned about the odors and any
health effects from the pollutants causing the odors.
We have been particularly concerned about pollutants
that could reach shore from the burning of oil and pol-
lutants that may evaporate from the spill as it spreads
closer to shore, potentially affecting residents along the
shoreline.
Since late April, EPA has been monitoring the air at mul-
tiple sites along the Gulf Coast for certain pollutants
that are associated with petroleum products and from
the burning oil out at sea. EPA's air monitoring to date,
has found that air quality levels for ozone and particu-
lates are normal on the Gulf coastline for this time of
year and odor-causing pollutants associated with pe-
troleum products are being found at low levels. This
report summarizes the information that is available at
this time. We are continuing to work to increase our in-
formation base.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
has reviewed the results of EPA's sampling efforts and
used information on the likely short term and long
term health effects associated with these chemicals to
determine whether pollutants in the air would be ex-
pected to cause health problems. The levels of some
of the pollutants that have been reported to date may
cause temporary eye, nose, or throat irritation, nausea,
or headaches, but are not thought to be high enough
to cause long-term harm. These effects should go away
when levels go down or when a person leaves the area.
The low levels that have been found are not expected
to cause long term harm. We will continue to monitor
the air and if we begin to detect levels that are higher
we will provide updates to the public. For up-to-date
information on air quality and monitoring data along
the Gulf Coast, please see www.epa.gov/bpspill/air.
html.
Some of the odors and chemicals that are being identified
in the area are as follows:
"Rotten Egg" Odor
• If you smell a"rotten egg"odor, you may be smell-
ing hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
• The levels of H2S that have been reported to
date may cause irritation, but as stated above,
these effects should go away when H2S levels go
down, or when a person leaves the area.
• While H2S is associated with oil and natural gas
extraction, it also comes from marshes and sew-
age treatment plants. Because H2S has only been
seen at individual monitors on an infrequent ba-
sis, this indicates the H2S is more likely from a lo-
cal source near the monitor rather than from the
oil spill. We do not know the exact source of H2S
in these areas.
"Gas Station-Like" Odor
• If you smell a 'gas station' like odor - the odor you
might smell while filling up your car - it may be
volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.
• The key toxic VOCs in most oils are benzene, tolu-
ene, ethylbenzene, and xylene.
continued >
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Exposure to low levels of VOCs may cause tempo-
rary irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. It
is possible that people with asthma may be more
sensitive to the effect of inhaled VOCs. The VOC
smell may give you a headache or upset stomach
but is not expected to cause long term health ef-
fects. If you are sensitive to VOCs, you should stay
indoors to limit your exposure, close windows and
doors, and set your air conditioner to a recircula-
tion mode. The smell may become stronger if the
wind or weather changes.
Historical data on oil spills indicate that VOCs are
likely to evaporate, disperse and/or react quickly
after the oil reaches the surface of the water.
Currently, we are measuring very low levels of
VOCs. We will continue to monitor the air and if
we begin to detect VOC levels that may be harm-
ful we will provide updates to the public. For up-
to-date information on air quality and monitoring
data along the Gulf Coast, please see www.epa.
gov/bpspill/air.html.
'Oily" or "Tar-Like" smell
• Information we have obtained to date indicates
that there are chemicals remaining in the weath-
ered oil known as semi-volatile organic com-
pounds (or SVOCs), and they are primarily respon-
sible for the "oily odors."
• EPA is monitoring for VOCs onshore to quantify the
amounts of SVOCs in the air to determine if any
might be present at unsafe levels. These data are
posted at www.epa.gov/bpspill/air.html.
• As we get information about specific SVOCs, we
will provide additional information about poten-
tial health concerns related to these compounds.
For more information
Response effort: www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
Federal-wide response: www.whitehouse.gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill
EPA response & validated environmental air and water sampling results: www.epa.gov/bpspill
CDC response: emergency.cdc.gov/gulfoilspill2010
National Park Service: (updates about potential park closures, resources at risk, and NPS actions to protect
vital park space and wildlife) www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm
Fish and Wildlife Service: (updates along the Gulf Coast and the status of national wildlife refuges)
www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill
NOAA Fisheries Service: (daily updates on fishing closures) sero.nmfs.noaa.gov
Call Centers
Joint Information Center: (713) 323-1670 or (713) 323-1671
Medical Support Line: (for oil spill health related questions) (888) 623-0287
Report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information: (866) 448-5816
Submit alternative response technology, services or products: (281) 366-5511
Submit your vessel for the Vessel of Opportunity Program: (281) 366-5511
Submit a claim for damages: (800) 440-0858
Report oiled wildlife: (866) 557-1401
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