Locals say they still experience health problems because of the spill

May 1, 2013 12:05 GMT  ·  By
People in Mayflower, Arkansas still experiencing health problems because of the Exxon Mobil oil spill
   People in Mayflower, Arkansas still experiencing health problems because of the Exxon Mobil oil spill

It has been about a month since one of Exxon Mobil's pipelines ruptured and spilled a whopping amount of oil in Mayflower, Arkansas.

Recent news on the matter at hand says that, as air samples collected and analyzed by people living in this part of the United States show, nearly 30 different harmful chemicals have made their way into Mayflower's air following this accidental spill.

Just one day after the spill, University of Central Arkansas student April Lane took it upon herself to collect air samples and see to it that they were properly analyzed.

By the looks of it, all of the chemical compounds in these samples were linked to cancer, reproductive problems and neurological impacts, Mongabay informs us.

“Thirty toxic hydrocarbons were measured above the detection limits. Each of the thirty hydrocarbons measured in the Mayflower release is a toxic chemical on its own and may pose a threat to human health depending on various exposure and individual factors,” specialist Dr. Neil Carman said.

“Total toxic hydrocarbons were detected at more than 88,000 parts per billion in the ambient air and present a complex airborne mixture or soup of toxic chemicals that residents may have been exposed to from the Mayflower tar sands bitumen spill,” he further added.

The same source informs us that none of the reports shared with the public by either EPA or Exxon Mobil pinned down chemical levels above harm in the clean-up area established following the spill.

April Lane says that, after taking the time to talk to the people living in Mayflower, she has found that some of them are still experiencing health problems as a result of their having been exposed to said toxic soup.

“Even four weeks later, residents are still feeling symptoms from the chemical exposure.”

“People have consistently talked about gastrointestinal problems, headaches, respiratory problems, skin irritation including chemical burns, and extreme fatigue,” reads a statement issued by this student.