delsuresearch-ga,
Here is the actual Material Safety and Data Sheet (MSDS) for crude oil
(which as intervalgoat-ga 's Comment suggests, is the best basic
starting point in answering your question) from Phillips Petroleum’s
website:
[ http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:WTS8u3Dy-8wJ:seweb2.phillips66.com/hes%255CMSDS.nsf/MSDSID/US791817/%24file/Crude%2B(English).pdf+Material+Safety+%26+Data+Sheet+Information+for+crude+oil&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
]
Phillips’ home page is: [ http://phillips66.com ]
Regarding the effects of crude oil on the human eye, the same page as
the MSDS above mentions the following effects of crude oil on the
human eye:
“CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANS: BLOOD,
LUNGS,
RESPIRATORY TRACT, SKIN, BONE MARROW, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, EYE,
LENS OR CORNEA.”
Note “eye, lens or cornea," with lens and cornea being specific parts
which make up the eye. [ Click here for a quick review of the eye,
from Lance Hahn's U. of Pennsylvania website: (
http://retina.anatomy.upenn.edu/~lance/eye/eye.html)].
And further down on the same Phillips 66 webpage [
http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:WTS8u3Dy-8wJ:seweb2.phillips66.com/hes%255CMSDS.nsf/MSDSID/US791817/%24file/Crude%2B(English).pdf+Material+Safety+%26+Data+Sheet+Information+for+crude+oil&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
]:
“MAY CAUSE RESPIRATORY TRACT, EYE AND SKIN IRRITATION.
Risk of cancer depends on duration and level of exposure.” They do not
go on to provide a precise definition of “irritation.”
They go on to say that “prolonged overexposure” is a cause for eye
irritation.
As to a specific cause for the eye irritation by the crude oil,
hydrogen sulfide is the cause: “Hydrogen sulfide can be irritating at
low concentrations to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.”
An important note from the same site: “The real risk for any
chemical exposure is related to the degree of exposure.”
Most toxicology reports list “irritation” as the primary effect of
crude oil on the eye. However, the degree of irritation is directly
proportional to the degree of exposure. E.g., a few seconds of crude
oil vapor exposure is a much different case than an immersion or
pressurized spray scenario.
It is clearly the hydrogen sulfide that is the big problem for eyes.
From Engen Chemicals’ website
[http://www.engenchemicals.co.za/content/prod/msds/refinery_streams_chemicals/crudeoil.htm
]:
“NOTE: Crude oils may contain varying concentrations of hydrogen
sulphide depending on gas stripping operations. Hydrogen sulphide is
highly toxic, keep face clear of tank or tank car openings.
The following link, to a specific part of another page on Engen’s
site, has a chart which lists the hydrogen sulfide exposure limits for
the human eye:
[http://www.engenchemicals.co.za/content/prod/msds/refinery_streams_chemicals/crudeoil.htm#Exposure
]
So when it comes to eye damage due to crude oil, the specific culprit
is hydrogen sulfide (the other major component of crude oil is
benzene).
From the same Engen site, the first aid procedures for eyes exposed to
crude oil:
“Eye Contact
Flush thoroughly with water. If irritation occurs, call a
doctor.”
Also from Engen’s site:
“Eye irritation (rabbits)
Practically non-irritating. (Draize score: 0 or greater but 6 or
less).
Based on testing of similar products and/or the components.”
Draize Scores are the toxicology scale used for measuring eye
irritants.
[See Google search results page for keywords “draize score”:
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=draize+score+explanation
].
In summation, it is the hydrogen sulfide component of crude oil which
cause irritation in the eye. How much irritation depends upon the
type, amount and length of exposure (i.e. vapors, liquid, a few
seconds or minutes, a high or low concentration, etc.). The parts of
the eye which are effected include specifically the lens and cornea.
Google Search Strategy:
Keywords:
“Material Safety & Data Sheet Information for crude oil”:
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=Material+Safety+%26+Data+Sheet+Information+for+crude+oil
],
"crude oil eye effects":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=crude+oil+eye+effects
],
"crude oil eye irritation":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=crude+oil+eye+irritation
] (This is a great results page for you to continue your research
from. There are many promising links here).
And since hydrogen sulfide is the primary compound responsible for the
eye irritation and damage, you should search Google for hydrogen
sulfide related topics as well, such as:
"hydrogen sulfide eye irritation":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=hydrogen+sulfide+eye+irritation&btnG=Google+Search
]
"hydrogen sulfide eye toxicology"
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=hydrogen+sulfide+eye+toxicology
]
I certainly hope that this information, along with that provided by
intervalgoat-ga's Comment, allows you to gain a better understanding
of the complex topic of crude oil toxicology as it relates to the
human eye.
Please let me know if there is anything here requiring Clarification.
Good luck in continuing your inquiries!
omniscientbeing-ga |
