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OSHA NIEHS Oil Spill Cleanup Training Tool 11% <br />What is Crude Oil? <br />• Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons and consists of light, medium and <br />heavy chemicals. <br />• The hydrocarbons in crude oil are mostly alkanes, cycloalkanes and various <br />aromatic hydrocarbons while the other organic compounds contain nitrogen, <br />oxygen and sulfur, and trace amounts of metals such as iron, nickel, copper <br />and vanadium. The exact molecular composition varies widely. <br />• The light parts, such as benzene, xylene, toluene and ethyl benzene <br />generally evaporate into the air in the first 24 hours of a spill (usually before <br />reaching the shore). <br />• The medium and heavy parts (consistency much like motor oil) is what <br />cleanup operations on the land and near shore areas focus on. <br />Be cautious during cleanup operations. If you are <br />unsure, ask your supervisor before proceeding! <br />WORKER EDUCATION & TRAINING PROGRAM 35 <br />