# Is extended skin contact with crude oil from an oil well poisonous? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 15, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-extended-skin-contact-with-crude-oil-from-an-oil-well-poisonous/219079 "2003-12-15T06:48:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-extended-skin-contact-with-crude-oil-from-an-oil-well-poisonous/219079/1 "2003-12-15T06:48:38Z")
Just curious. In National Geographic type layouts, I often see pics of oil riggers coated with crude oil, and since most of the products made from oil are fairly toxic (ie gasoline etc) if ingested, does extended skin contact with crude oil pose any dangers? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-extended-skin-contact-with-crude-oil-from-an-oil-well-poisonous/219079/2 "2003-12-15T07:28:08Z")
[MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET: Crude Oil](http://patapsco.nist.gov/srmcatalog/msds/2722-MSDS.pdf) (warning, .PDF) > [@](#): > > \*\*Health Hazards (Acute and Chronic): \*\*Inhalation of petroleum crude oil may irritate the respiratory tract. Vapors released by various compounds in crude oil may cause asphyxiation and anesthetic or narcotic effects including headache and dizziness. Inhalation may also produce chemical pneumonitis. > > Skin and/or eye contact with petroleum crude oil may cause irritation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the skin may cause allergic reaction or dermatitis. Redness, itching, cracking of the skin, and inflammation are possible. Other adverse effects may include photosensitization, pigmentation, and acneform dermatitis manifested by plugged sebaceous follicles, nodules, and lesions. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the eye may cause conjunctivitis. > > Ingestion of petroleum crude oil may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal disturbances. Aspiration into the lungs may cause pneumonitis. Chronic ingestion of petroleum crude oil may result in the systemic effects of vomiting, moderate or extreme bloating, aspiration pneumonia, anorexia, weight loss, mild mental depression, and possibly a decreased plasma level. ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-extended-skin-contact-with-crude-oil-from-an-oil-well-poisonous/219079/3 "2003-12-15T08:01:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*Just curious. In National Geographic type layouts, I often see pics of oil riggers coated with crude oil, and since most of the products made from oil are fairly toxic (ie gasoline etc) if ingested, does extended skin contact with crude oil pose any dangers? \*\* **YES** ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-extended-skin-contact-with-crude-oil-from-an-oil-well-poisonous/219079/4 "2003-12-15T08:16:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by radar ralf \* > \*\ ***YES** \*\* **OK** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-extended-skin-contact-with-crude-oil-from-an-oil-well-poisonous/219079/5 "2003-12-15T08:42:08Z")
since the OP has been answered. Vaseline was discovered as a goo left over from refinement. Robert Chesebrough found out oil workers used it on their burns and cuts and it made them heal faster. Proof crude is not completly terrible on your skin. you might get a painfull bruning bright red festering rash. but it will a soft moistured rash. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaseline](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaseline)