Table of Contents
Health Effects of Oil Spills and Implications for Public Health Planning and Research
Two major pipeline projects have been proposed to transport petroleum products from Alberta to the British Columbian coast. Despite potential economic benefits, these proposals have roused widespread public concern regarding the health and ecological consequences of a major marine or terrestrial spill. In Metro Vancouver, the Trans-Mountain pipeline expansion will triple the volume of petroleum products entering this densely populated urban area. In 2014, local municipalities requested Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health to gather information on the potential impacts of oil spills on human health. What follows is a summary of literature reviewed on behalf of the Office of the Chief Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health.