Studies of the health effects after seven supertanker spills showed that clean-up crews had suffered short-term health problems from volatile organic compounds emitted by the oil…Protective gear helps, but the workers usually take it off in the summer heat of the Gulf, they said…"At least 400 tanker spills have occurred since the 1960s…only seven of those have been studied to date," said Nalini Sathiakuma of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "These studies have shown us consistent evidence for ocular, neurological, dermal exposure as a result of exposure to volatile organic compounds. Personal protection equipment definitely reduces exposures…" she said.