The USS Cleveland was a military transport ship that arrived approx April 1 and departed end of June, 1989 - Prince William Sound near Valdez, Alaska

It housed 700-800 workers who worked on the beaches and came back with gear to ready for the next shift. Most of these workers must have been using hot water washing of the beaches; later other things were experimented with.

It was replaced by the USS Deluth

Both of these were LPD7 ships

The USS Cleveland should have avoided most of the harmful chemicals that were used for oil cleanup; however, one sailor called 1-17-04 concerned about liver problems and some concern about fatigue (blood damage?)

More info

What went on in those days, anyway?

What to check for?

In the beginning, the benzene in the crude oil would have been quite hazardous

Difference between blood damage from benzene in oil & 2-butoxyethanol in anything Concerns with benzene are aplastic anemia and leukemia

Concerns with 2-butoxyethanol (ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) in the 'cleanup chemicals' is hemolytic anemia, Central Nervous System damage, eye damage, kidney damage; liver damage; reproductive damage (although both are teratogens)