Neuronal synaptic and cytoskeletal protein aberration following acute inhalation exposure to the oil dispersant COREXIT(R) EC9500A

Consequent to the Gulf oil spill, there is an emergent concern about the short- and long-term adverse health effects of exposure to oil, weathered-oil products and dispersants among the workforce employed to contain and clean-up the spill. Workers are at risk for exposure primarily via inhalation of volatile or non-volatile aerosolized components. These inhaled fractions can potentially translocate to the brain via olfactory or systemic circulation causing nervous system abnormalities. To determine if crude oil and/or dispersant pose a neurological risk, we have initiated investigations to evaluate their effects in a rodent model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed by whole-body inhalation exposure to the dispersant, COREXIT® EC9500A (~27 mg/m3 × 5h/day × 1d), and various indices of neural dysfunction were evaluated in discrete brain areas, at 1 or 7d post-exposure. Exposure to the dispersant did not elicit neuroinflammation or oxidative stress in any of the brain areas examined. However, up-regulation...