We suggest you stop drinking or cooking with water containing these chemicals at levels higher than the standard, or if you smell a kerosene odor or see a oily sheen. If levels are very high, you should avoid washing, bathing, or using the water for other purposes. No standards exist for the amount of fuel oil vapors allowed in homes or workplaces. Use fuel oil only in well-ventilated areas. Large spills should be cleaned by a professional.
All spills require significant cleaning and venting.
Tightly seal and properly label storage containers. Be sure to vent kerosene heaters outdoors. This will reduce your exposure to carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that can be formed as kerosene burns. Most people can withstand short exposures to fuel oil vapors without any problems. However, breathing fuel oil vapors overtime can affect a person's ability to smell and taste.