[CPEO-BIF] "New Orleans cleared of 'toxic soup' scenario"

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

New Orleans cleared of 'toxic soup' scenario
Surveys show no evidence of long-term health risks caused by Katrina.

Emma Marris
Nature
September 15, 2006



New Orleans' waters and soils seem to have survived the ravages of 
Hurricane Katrina without being contaminated by any toxic sludge.

The massive hurricane flooded the city in August last year with waters 
that were expected to be contaminated by sewage, petrol, and various 
household and industrial pollutants, from asbestos to pesticides. But 
just how toxic those floodwaters were, and what mess they might leave 
behind, wasn't known.

By October 2005, researchers from Lousiana State University had reported 
that the floodwaters themselves were not the 'toxic soup' feared, but 
instead looked much like the drainage you might expect in a city after 
heavy rain.1

This week, at a four-day session at the American Chemical Society 
meeting in San Francisco, California, scientist after scientist 
confirmed similar results: they have found no worrying or widespread 
elevated levels of pesticides, petroleum products or metals in the 
sediment. There was no significant effect on seafood, they say, or 
outbreaks of water-borne diseases.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060911/full/060911-14.html

--


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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