1. Potential Health Effect of Exposure to COREXIT during Clean-up from the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill
B. Jean Meade1, Jennifer Franko2, Ewa Lukomska2 and Stacey E. Anderson2
1West Virginia University, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health
and
2Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV

2. Background and Significance
Cleanup workers reported acute respiratory and dermatological effects1
COREXIT 9500A
An estimated 1.9 million gallons dispersed
Composition
Light petroleum distillates
Propylene glycol
Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS)
Limited immunotoxicity data available
Single case report of sensitization to DSS2
Has been used as replacement for glut for 10 years
1http://
2Lee and Lee, Contact Dermatitis, 1998, 38(6):355-6.

3. Hazard Identification
Determine the irritancy and allergic response induced by dermal exposure to COREXIT
Investigate the contribution of DSS
Evaluate the immunosuppressive potential of COREXIT

4. Irritancy and Sensitization
Measure ear swelling
Irritancy evaluated by % ear swelling
DAY
Topical exposure
H3 Thymidine injection
H3 thymidine uptake measured in the lymph nodes
Radioassay

5. COREXIT Irritancy LLNA
For all studies * represents p<0.05, ** p<0.01

6. Th1 vs. Th2 responses? 1 2 3 4 8 9 10 11 IgE + DAY Th1 Th2 IL-4 IL-5
Mouse Ear Swelling Test (MEST)
Premeasure ears, challenge
Post Treatment Ear Measurement
DAY
IL-4
IL-5
IL-10
IL-13
Th2
IgE +
Collect DLN, culture and stimulate
IFN
TNF
IL-2
Th1
Topical exposure
Collect supernatants

7. COREXIT: Th2 Response **

8. COREXIT: Th1 Responses * * *

9. DSS LLNA Irritancy MEST % DSS (w/v) % DSS (w/v) % DSS (w/v) ** ** **

10. Potency Estimation EC3 Human Sensitization Category
Reference Chemicals
(EC3 values*)
COREXIT
0.4%
Moderate allergen
Glutaraldehyde (0.2%)
Isoeugenol (1.3%)
DSS
3.9%
Cinnamic aldehyde (2.0%)
Tetramethylthiuram disulfide (6%)
*Basketter et al, Contact Dermatitis, 2000, 42:

11. Conclusions
No evidence of COREXIT induced immunosuppression (data not shown).
COREXIT and DSS induced irritancy and sensitization.
Data suggestive of a T-cell mediated mechanism.
DSS is a high volume production chemical with the potential for occupational exposure in many settings.
Knowledge of the sensitization potential of DSS may help in the future diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis in exposed workers.