[CPEO-BIF] NRDC reports on New Orleans

[lsiegel@cpeo.org]

NRDC Experts Surveying New Orleans Warn of Toxic Threats to Katrina Victims

Natural Resources Defense Council
YubaNet
October 5, 2005

Experts from the Natural Resources Defense Council are in Louisiana this
week to establish a program of independent toxicity testing, meet with
community groups and scientists, and talk with local, state and federal
officials. Their goal is to ensure that residents returning to the city
are adequately informed of the dangers posed by the "toxic chaos" in
many New Orleans neighborhoods.

On Monday, the delegation toured some of the hardest-hit neighborhoods
in the city and documented numerous toxic hazards. The NRDC experts also
reviewed all EPA environmental sampling results and concluded that there
are potentially serious hazards related to air and water pollution. In
addition, the contaminated sludge left behind by the flooding will
become airborne as it dries out, leading to new air pollution problems.
Mold is also a spreading and serious problem in buildings and even in
outdoor air.

"The citizens of New Orleans and other hard-hit Louisiana, Mississippi,
and Alabama communities need to know how to protect themselves from
these harmful chemicals so they can rebuild their lives and stay
healthy," said Erik Olson, an NRDC senior attorney. "It is critical not
to understate the threat posed by Katrina's toxic mess."

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_25971.shtml

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
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