Crude Oil, Alaska North Slope

Potential health effects

Eye: Contact may cause mild eye irritation including stinging, watering, and redness. Skin: Contact may cause mild skin irritation including redness, and a burning sensation. Prolonged or repeated contact can worsen irritation by causing drying and cracking of the skin leading to dermatitis (inflammation). No harmful effects from skin absorption are expected. Inhalation (Breathing): Low to moderate degree of toxicity by inhalation. May contain or liberate hydrogen sulfide - see Other Comments section below. Ingestion (Swallowing): Low degree of toxicity by ingestion. ASPIRATION HAZARD - This material can enter lungs during swallowing or vomiting and cause lung inflammation and damage. Signs and Symptoms: Effects of overexposure may include irritation of the nose and throat, irritation of the digestive tract, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and transient excitation followed by signs of nervous system depression (e.g., headache, drowsiness, dizziness, loss of coordination, disorientation and fatigue). Cancer: Skin cancer hazard (see Sections 11 and 15). Target Organs: Inadequate data available for this material. Developmental: Potential hazard to the fetus (see Section 11). Other Comments: This material may contain or liberate hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous gas with the smell of rotten eggs. The smell disappears rapidly because of olfactory fatigue so odor may not be a reliable indicator of exposure. Effects of overexposure include irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract, blurred vision, photophobia (sensitivity to light), and pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs). Severe exposures can result in nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness or cramps, headache, disorientation and other signs of nervous system depression, irregular heartbeats, convulsions, respiratory failure, and death. This material may contain polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs) which have been known to produce a photototoxic reaction when contaminated skin is exposed to sunlight. The effect is similar in appearance to an exaggerated sunburn, and is temporary in duration if exposure is discontinued. Continued exposure to sunlight can result in more serious skin problems including pigmentation (discoloration), skin eruptions (pimples), and possible skin cancers. Pre-Existing Medical Conditions: Conditions aggravated by exposure may include skin disorders and respiratory (asthma-like) disorders.