Crude Oil Exposure Symptoms After the East L.A. Pipeline Spill

If you live, work, or were near the East L.A. pipeline spill at East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and North Eastern Avenue, this page summarizes what the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and Los Angeles County Public Health publish about crude oil exposure — the documented symptoms, who is most at risk, and when to seek care.

It is general information compiled from cited public sources, not medical advice, and AlertRelief is not a law firm.

What crude oil is, in toxicology terms

Crude oil is a complex mix of hundreds of compounds. Public-health agencies refer to this family as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). The ATSDR ToxFAQs entry and the longer Toxicological Profile are the authoritative public references.

Documented exposure symptoms

Per ATSDR:

• Routes of exposure: breathing, ingestion, and skin or eye contact.
• Nervous-system effects: some TPH compounds can affect the nervous system, causing headaches and dizziness.
• Specific compounds: breathing toluene at concentrations greater than about 100 ppm for several hours can cause fatigue, headache, nausea, and drowsiness. When exposure stops, the symptoms generally resolve.
• Long-term concerns: prolonged exposure can cause permanent central nervous-system effects. The TPH compound n-hexane can cause peripheral neuropathy (numbness) with chronic exposure.

Skin and eye contact with oil can also cause irritation. The actual health impact of any incident depends on the dose, the duration, and personal factors.

Who is at higher risk

Per Los Angeles County Public Health, people most at risk of symptoms include older adults, children, pregnant people, and those who are immunocompromised (LA County DPH; LAist resident guide). Keep children and pets away from spilled oil or contaminated debris, and avoid touching or walking through affected areas.

When to seek care

• If you have difficulty breathing or symptoms that persist, see a clinician and tell them about the possible exposure.
• For exposure-specific questions, the U.S. Poison Control line is 1-800-222-1222.
• For emergencies, call 911.

If you believe you were exposed

• Note when you were near the area, for how long, and what you smelled or touched while details are fresh.
• Record any symptoms, when they started, and any medical visits.
• See what to do if you smell oil near East Los Angeles and document your exposure.
• If you would like a free review by an independent attorney — no obligation — you can see whether you qualify.