The damage that oil refineries can do the environment is more than an esoteric issue about humanity’s responsibility to their home planet. Instead, the real issue is the amount of pollution that enters into the air and contributes directly to health issues in nearby communities. Because of the powerful chemicals and processes, gaseous byproducts can enter into the air and cause injuries to those working at the refinery and those who live in the area.
Health problems related to air pollution are not theoretical warnings from disconnected scientific studies. Instead, real medical concerns have arisen across the world in areas that are close to major industrial centers. In particular, the pollution that can be caused by an oil refinery can cause a wide range of health issues that can lead to steady deterioration in general health as well as the development of very specific maladies.
The pollution from oil refineries can contribute to the destruction of a healthy atmosphere, leading to an air quality similar to smog. With an increased presence of unusual chemicals in the air, the human respiratory system is generally the first body system to suffer. At first, symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and a peculiar difficulty breathing. Eventually, these can build to complicate preexisting conditions, affecting people with serious heart diseases.
Over time, exposure to these chemicals, which may be connected to a person’s employment at a refinery, can lead to extremely dangerous respiratory and cardiovascular problems. These issues can include asthma attacks, the development of heart disease, lung damage, bronchitis, emphysema, and unexpected allergies. The longer a person remains exposed to polluted environments, the worse these problems can become. Eventually, pollution can even contribute to a person’s untimely death.
To learn more about a worker’s options in regards to harmful conditions and health deterioration, contact a workers’ compensation attorney.