New Report Released on 2010 Kalamazoo River Oil Spill

Will long term health problems expected persist from breathing chemicals?

Photo: Bill Pugliano, Getty Images

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has finalized the Public Health Assessment evaluating levels of oil-related chemicals in the air following the July 2010 oil spill in Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties.

Good news! MDHHS has concluded that residents are not expected to experience long-term harm to their health from breathing chemicals released into the air from the spilled oil.

People who breathed oil-related chemicals in the air from the time of the spill to August 18, 2010, reported temporary health effects including: headaches, nausea, respiratory discomfort, and eye irritation. By August 18, 2010, concentrations of oil-related chemicals in the air had fallen below human health screening levels that protect the public, including vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with preexisting illnesses.

Air monitoring near cleanup sites in 2011 and 2012 did not find oil-related chemicals in the air at concentrations exceeding the human health screening levels. Therefore, people did not breathe oil-related chemicals long enough or at levels high enough to cause long term health effects.

MDHHS invites the public to read the Public Health Assessment available athttp://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,4612,7-132-54783_54784_56159-263152--,00.html.

This Public Health Assessment related to the 2010 oil spill in Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties is specific to chemicals in the air. Other assessments have been conducted and can be found atwww.michigan.gov/kalamazooriveroilspill.

Photo: Bill Pugliano, Getty Images

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