Toxic Stew: What's in the Water in New Orleans?

[paineinthearse]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=53071

Toxic Stew: What's in the Water in New Orleans?

9/9/2005 10:26:00 PM

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To: National Desk, Environment Reporter

Contact: Brandon MacGillis of National Environmental Trust, 202-887-8800

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, the National Environmental Trust posted new details about toxic chemicals present in New Orleans and the surrounding parishes before Hurricane Katrina that may pose serious threats to public health if they have leaked from numerous oil and chemical facilities.

These industrial chemicals range from formaldehyde to benzene to cyanide compounds and include neurotoxins, carcinogens and reproductive and developmental toxins. All chemicals listed were present in significant quantities and could pose serious short- and long-term public health risks if they have leaked.

NET also hosted an extensive briefing on this subject, with experts discussing the public health and long-term environmental effects from the flood waters. NET and former EPA officials called for a careful assessment of possible leaks and health threats before residents are allowed to return to the area. The briefing is available for downloading as an MP3 at http://www.net.org

Related....

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=53070

First Flood-Water Sampling Data Available Online

9/9/2005 10:24:00 PM

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To: National Desk, Environment Reporter

Contact: Eryn Witcher of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 202-436-2215, [e-mail]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Environmental Protection Agency in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality today posted data from New Orleans flood water samples collected from 12 locations in the September 3-5 time period. The data has been reviewed and validated through a quality assurance process to ensure scientific accuracy.

Initial biological results indicated the presence of high levels of E. coli in sampled areas. Based on that preliminary information, on September 7 EPA and CDC provided health guidance to avoid human contact with flood water when possible.

EPA in coordination with federal, state and local agencies will continue to release data as it becomes available. A map displaying sampling locations is available on the EPA website. To view the data, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults

http://www.usnewswire.com/

Any environmental scientists / chemists care to share their observations?

[valerief]

1. Level-3 Infectious Disease Research in and Around New Orleans

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/9/12934/99164

At the very least, there are two Level-3 biolabs in New Orleans and a cluster of three in nearby Covington. They have been working with anthrax, mousepox, HIV, plague, etc. There are surely other labs in the city.

For example, in nearby Covington, Tulane University runs the Tulane National Primate Research Center, a cluster of Level-3 biological labs containing around 5,000 monkeys, most of which are housed in outdoor cages.

[ReadTomPaine]

3. Excellent question for the media to ask - are these areas secure..

and decontaminated. DHS should have had that area locked down from hour one.

[StrafingMoose]

9. I bet al-Qaeda will step in...

if these ("anthrax, mousepox, HIV, plague") would to be found and 'restricting' this land for way longer than the storm and its aftermath would ever have.

[Mnemosyne]

15. I've been trying to get a report on

these BSL3 labs for a week. Keep getting mixed reports.
The ones I know of are located at LSU and Tulane.

[ReadTomPaine]

2. Bush's Chernobyl, only many more have died. n/t

[tom_paine]

7. Not by the time the Busheviks are done suppressing the body count

No more than 2,500 dead...almost a certainty.

The REAL number will almost certainly be 10,000+

[Cornjob]

4. The coliform and e coli test results were frightening!

It was interesting to learn that the lab discontinued the tests due to the astronomical levels of these bacteria present.

I think I can understand why Ray Nagin wants everybody out of there.

[IndyJones]

5. Not to sound paranoid, but I wonder if someone was dumping crap

in that poor, forgotten area before the hurricane???

[FloridaPat]

6. There is a toxic waste dump buried half way between the lake and

the dome. It was covered over decades ago and homes built on top of it. A Canadian paper reported on it a few days ago.

[Jamastiene]

13. ??? You mean on purpose?

[slor]

8. They can clean it up...possibly...

through Thermal Depolymerization.

[Blaq Dem]

10. I can't see why people want to remain in that mess

New Orleans is gone. There's nothing there. It's toxic.

Knowing the Bush Mafia, they'll never provide any healthcare for those affected by this tragedy. They probably have people signing papers revoking any future lawsuits in exchange for desparately needed food.

[pdurod1]

11. As a former chemist, my take...

I would be more worried about the biological threat than chemical toxins at this point. A lot of the organic chems (in water) will float to the top and breakdown/evaporate with the heat and sunlight (when fresh asphalt is layed down yer getting a toxic stew also). Cyanic compounds won't interupt respiration in the open air unless you get concentrations like at Bopal India. Long term, would be exposure to new insectides, some are made to be persistant, some might not have complete MSDS data (animal testing).

My take, (I'm 10 years out of my education in this field, things change). Correct me if I'm wrong.

[paineinthearse]

12. Yikes!

Sounds like the end of the ecosystems.

[buzzsaw_23]

14. The Toxic Brew of Industrial Society

There are big lessons to be learned here. Will we listen?