Greenpeace activists put up warning signs saying “Oil Pollution! Stay Away! on the beaches of Dalian. Greenpeace is urging visitors, for their own protection, to stay away from the beaches. Many visitors were still playing with their children in the oil-contaminated water. Crude oil contains significant quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other dangerous chemicals that do not readily dissolve in water. Hydrocarbons can be absorbed by the human body via inhalation, ingestion or through direct contact with skin.