CDC Warns Of Dangerous Chemicals After Deaths Of Oil Field Workers

This story affects a lot of Oklahoma families. After the deaths of at least nine oil field workers, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is sending out a warning about dangerous chemicals at wells.

One of those deaths was recorded here in Oklahoma and nine happened in just the past five years. All involved men worked at crude production tanks.

At first, the deaths were thought to be caused by natural causes or even heart failure. But the men were later found to have inhaled toxic amounts of hydrocarbon chemicals during the process of tank gauging according to the Denver Post.

That's where they take measurements of oil or other byproducts in the tanks for testing. Doctors said high amounts of the chemical can cause confusion and death.

The government first voiced their concerns last month and now the CDC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are on board. New recommendations include providing training on protection and using controls to do the testing.

The sudden spike in deaths could be contributed to the number of inexperienced workers brought on to work during the recent energy boom according to some industry analysts.