....says one:

I am very sorry about what's happened in the Exxon Valdez case and I am
very concerned about the actual incident at the Spanish coast.

I am just a 'researcher' dealing with surfactants etc. 

not associated with a big company. 

For a period of years I dealt with the topic of soil clean-up.

Some points to note (making nothing better)

There should have been stringent safety rules during the 'Exxon Valdez'
clean-up (protective gloves, inhalation protection, protected 'clean' areas
for having a break etc.)

The solvent butoxyethanol, also used in paints, as known, requires safety
measures, however, there is no more concern, than in case of aromatic
solvents, which are also contained in the crude oil. Important to note,
that butoxyethanol facilitates the take-up of toxic components of the
crude oil through the unprotected  skin.

Nevertheless toxic solvents like butoxyethanol may be substituted by
'harmless alternatives'.   But one has to keep in mind that together with the
crude oil this also will have the effect of enhanced take-up through the
unprotected skin.

I hope, I did not bored you with this background.

Best wishes

T. Sobisch

...elaborate?

    I can 'elaborate it a little'. However, I am not able to work out an
expert's report on this matter. As you know the crude oil is a very sticky
material. (As stated the toxicity reduces during weathering of the oil due
to evaporation of toxic compounds, which otherwise may be inhaled, it
becomes even more sticky when fluid compounds evaporate).

Due to the action of butoxyethanol the oil becomes more fluid

and diffusion of toxic compounds is enhanced.

Generally speaking all measures to enhance the bioavailability

(to stimulate degradation)

will also enhance the bioavailability to humans.

 from... T. Sobisch

____________________________________________________________________

... recently our paper Two-step bioreactor process for removal of contaminants
 with low bioavailability was published on-line at the preprint server of
 chemweb.com - <http://preprint.chemweb.com/envchem/0206002>, 

which may be of interest . . .
 The paper is freely available after registration (only password required).
 We would be very interested in feedback and helpful discussions.

 Sincerely,

 T. Sobisch

 www.marquiswhoswho.net/SOBISCH/