A garbage truck spilled oil -all- over my street, then I subsequently jogged at night, could the fumes have..?

Question

Okay. A couple of days ago, a garbage truck malfunctioned or something and subsequently released oil -all- over my street, like, TONS of it. They came back later and dumped cat litter or sand or something all over it to absorb the mess. About two nights later, with it all still there, and me not knowing because it was dark, I went for a jog. I could smell it (which is how I noticed it) and I realized what was causing the smell after about a quarter mile of running.

Since it was dark, no evaporation should have been occurring - and when I got back, I didn't have any abnormalities or discrepancies in conscious -- motor functions, hand eye, ABCs, everything registered normal and as usual, and there was no headache.

Is it safe to presume that "odor = not an indication of toxicity" and that no brain cells coulda been harmed at all?

Could I have inhaled ANY chemicals or constituents of the oil that might be bioaccumulative, or have gotten through my lungs into my bloodstream? Or is the odor just that - a simple smell, nothing more, and incapable of pregnating into the bloodstream.

Answer 1

You have just experienced a very unpleasant smell and if there was any toxicity involved you would have seen the guys out in their space like gear. "Hasmat"

Answer 2

You inhaled chemicals since you were able to smell it.  Since the sense of smell can detect trace amounts of a chemical, it is not at a high enough level to cause any harm.

A guy pumping gas all day would have inhaled thousands times more amounts than you and not have ill effects.

Don't sweat it.

Answer 3

if you dont feel bad yet and still worry, you should probably go see a shrink, otherwise wait another few days and bother your doc about it, so he'll have something to laugh about

if you didnt throw up from the odor theres nothing bad about it, so dont worry