BP’s oil dispersant is carcinogenic (and “may be absorbed through the skin”)

[Echo In Light]

Secret Ingredients in Corexit Oil Dispersant Are Carcinogenic and Absorbed Through Skin

Secret Ingredients in Corexit Oil Dispersant Are Carcinogenic and Absorbed Through Skin
BY Ariel SchwartzThu Jun 10, 2010

When the EPA approved Nalco's Corexit to be used as an oil dispersant in the Deepwater Horizon disaster last month, we were more than a little concerned--trade secrets kept the exact ingredients of the product from being revealed, but safety sheets reported that Corexit could cause vomiting, reproductive problems, and headaches

Now the EPA has released the list of ingredients, and it isn't comforting: Despite Nalco's claims that Corexit is safe, biodegradable, and free of carcinogens, it happens to contain substances that--you guessed it!--are dangerous, non-biodegradable, and carcinogenic.

For example, there's 2-butoxy ethanol. Greenbiz lists the following warnings for the substance:

2-Butoxy Ethanol can affect you by ingestion and may be absorbed through the skin.

2-Butoxy Ethanol should be handled as a CARCINOGEN--WITH EXTREME CAUTION.
Contact can irritate the skin and eyes with possible eye damage.

Inhaling 2-Butoxy Ethanol can irritate the nose and throat.

2-Butoxy Ethanol can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Exposure can cause headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, and passing out.

2-Butoxy Ethanol may damage the liver and kidneys.

We've seen 2-butoxy ethanol before: It was also used during cleanup operations for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil disaster.

In a recent interview with FastCompany.com, Exxon Valdez worker Merle Savage described many of the symptoms listed above, including nausea, vomiting, liver damage, and dizziness. Cleanup workers at the BP disaster site are also reporting similar symptoms. The most disturbing part: more effective and less toxic products have been around for years.

http://markcrispinmiller.com/

http://www.fastcompany.com/1658530/epa-reveals-ingredients-in-corexit-oil-dispersant

[flyarm]

1. And this is the shit we were breathing on the Gulf Coasts..that our government

and BP would not give us answers to..that was making our eyes and throats burn and giving so many massive headaches!

but thee is no cover up going on..nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :hide: :hide: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[tsuki]

2. Come down to Florida and enjoy our beaches, but don't go in the water.

Bu-Bump, Bu-Bump

[mariawr]

3. Poisoned the gulf.......so sad. nt

[Echo In Light]

4. Kick