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Air quality testing shows toxins 100x amount safe to humans
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May 12, 20101969-12-31 18:33:30
Air quality testing in Venice, Louisiana nearthe DEEPWATER HORIZON oil spill shows level of toxins greater than 100x theamount safe to humans Continued degradation of air quality in coastalcommunities very likely Stuart Smith, Lead Counsel for the GulfOil Disaster Recovery Group which represents the Louisiana Environmental ActionNetwork and United Fishermen’s Association today issued this statement: On April 30, on behalf of citizens living andworking in Louisiana near the British Petroleum catastrophe, the Gulf OilDisaster Recovery Group urged all officials working to resolve this man-madeproblem to deal in facts and with transparency. At the time, we warned we wereon the edge of the worst-case scenario. To the extent BP and its partners have heeded ourwarnings it has been only after entering the U.S. District Court and gainingbinding agreements whereby BP is forced to respect the rights and health ofLouisiana’s citizens. These actions have been extended to cover all Americans. Over the weekend, our group was the first toannounce that the BP cofferdam experiment had failed and to ask why it took thecorporation so long to admit failure to government officials so appropriateactions could be taken. Now, a recent evaluation done bythe Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) of the EnvironmentalProtection Agency’s results of air content and quality testing show that thelevel of some airborne toxins is greater than 100 times the quantity consideredsafe to humans and could cause physical reactions. There is an obvious significant threat not onlyto the environment and economy, but also to public health for those downwind ofthe oil slick. It is imperative that BP and the federal government immediatelyrelease to the public all information that they have as a result of modeling aworst-case scenario. Congressional hearings have started. The concerncannot stop but the impact of a catastrophic failure and the effect on humanhealth is not being debated enough. The LEAN report said that results ofthe testing show that the hydrogen sulfide content at Venice Beach, Louisianahas reached up to 1,192 parts per billion. The concentration threshold forpeople to experience physical symptoms from hydrogen sulfide is about 5 to 10parts per billion. Noted Toxicologist Dr. William Sawyer statedthat hydrogen sulfide gas presents a very narrow window of safety following itsolfactory detection and if sustained exposures to residents occur at thislevel, severe and permanent toxicological effects are imminent. Sustained exposures at levels as low as 500 PPB are distinctly detectable bythe nose; however, slightly higher levels are associated with sore eyes, mucousmembrane irritation, neurological damage, adverse respiratory effects,headache, dizziness and ocular damage. Complaints of irritation, rhinitis,bronchitis, pulmonary edema, headaches, dizziness and respiratory difficultiesare characteristic of H2S exposure. Low-level chronic or sustained exposure mayinclude ocular damage (H2S “gas eye”), damage to the cornea, corneal scarring,corneal ulceration or chronic conjunctivitis, respiratory disease, neurologicaldamage and neuropsychological damage. The neuropsychological effects may includememory failure, lack of insight, disorientation, confusion states and dementia.Neuro-sensory abnormalities include hearing impairment, vision loss and lack ofsmell. Most severe injuries may include loss of motor function includingataxia, tremor and muscle rigidity. Immediate precautions and continuous monitoringis essential with a relocation plan for exposed residents made available. Testing data also showed levels of volatileorganic chemicals that far exceed Louisiana's own ambient air standards. VOCscause acute physical health symptoms including eye, skin and respiratoryirritation as well as headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea and confusion. Louisiana's ambient air standard for the VOCbenzene, for example, is 3.76 ppb, while its standard for methylene chloride is61.25 ppb. Long-term exposure to airborne benzene has been linked to cancer.Air testing results show VOC concentrations far above these state standards. OnMay 6, for example, the EPA measured VOCs at levels of 483 ppb. The highestlevels detected to date were on April 30, at 3,084 ppb, following by May 2, at3,416 ppb. Toxicity from this tragic event is increasing,not abating. We must know the facts and BP must share them and has aresponsibility to present these facts. Once again, without knowing the toxicitywhich has been caused from this tragic event, it is imperative that those whomay be forced to prove their losses in a court of law obtain competent andenvironmentally knowledgeable legal representatives who can establish thepre-damage baseline ecology now, in order to compare to post-oil spillcontamination effects seen later. Without that immediate effort, victims whodid not seek that type of early assistance may lose their ability to prove afull accounting of their rightful compensation for losses they actuallysustain. Since weather patterns indicate that sustainedwinds will blow from the Gulf into southeast Louisiana over the next few days,action must happen quickly. State and federal health officials need the abilityto act quickly and with accuracy. We believe this event has the potential to bethe largest environmental disaster in the history of America, and it hasreached the worst case scenario. Without any hesitation I can report that GulfOil Disaster Recovery Group is ready to protect the interests of all those whohave suffered and will continue to suffer as a result of this catastrophicevent.
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