U.S. Rep. Charles Melancon announces health clinics for ailing Gulf oil spill relief workers

[highplainsdem]

Source: Times-Picayune

U.S. Rep. Charles Melancon announces health clinics for ailing Gulf oil spill relief workers
By Kia Hall Hayes, The Times-Picayune
May 29, 2010, 3:13PM


U.S. Rep. Charles Melancon, D-Napoleonville, today announced that the federal government will deploy a temporary health care clinic to south Louisiana to treat and screen workers and residents affected by the oil spill in the Gulf.

"We are seeing a growing need for health care services for those responders working around the clock to combat this disaster," said Melancon, who has been pressuring the federal government to send the temporary clinics.

"Professional crews and volunteers are being exposed to hazardous fumes and potentially dangerous dispersants every day, and there is no health care infrastructure in place to treat them and monitor their symptoms."

The clinic will provide medical checkups to people who have come in contact with hazardous materials and also assist in monitoring the health effects of the oil leak on south Louisianians.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/05/us_rep_charlie_melancon_announ.html

[Angry Dragon]

1. I wonder if they have any clues on what the problems are

and how to treat them??

[The Magistrate]

2. This Wretch Deserves To Be Strangled By His Own Colon, Sir

He is getting truly tiresome. He voted to turn the Gulf over to the oil drillers, then weeps about the consequences of his own venal foolishness, as though it happened wholly independent from his own attitudes and actions. Now, he wants that Federal gum'mint health care, and be quick about it too. Of course, you know how he voted a few months ago....

"In these tough economic times, we've got to be smarter about getting government spending and the deficit under control, and the House's health care bill simply costs too much.

"And I can't support a government-run insurance option that the people of Louisiana don't want.

"In the coming months, I will keep listening to folks in Louisiana and working with people from both sides of the aisle.

"And I'll keep working for smarter, more fiscally-responsible, market-based healthcare reforms that protect the sanctity of life.

[otohara]

3. All I Hear About Is His Teary Episode

in a committee hearing last week. No follow up with his voting record -

Thanks

[pinto]

5. Pointed and well said Mag.

:hi:

[Jennicut]

8. Didn't he vote against the health care bill, for conservative Dem reasons?

Pitiful.

[flyarm]

4. aHHH WE HAD THAT SHITTY AIR FOR DAYS AND DAYS IN SW FLA. AS WELL..

anyone doing testing here?? nope.

[juajen]

6. I have sons in St. Pete and Clearwater and they have said nothing about smells

from the spill. Where do you live?

[Catherina]

7. Wonderful. Thank you Rep. Melancon n/t

[BrightKnight]

9. Levels of VOCs including benzene are probably very high..

The only real solution is to avoid exposure. I an not sure how a clinic would address that.

From the Benzene MSDS:

Chronic Effects on Humans:
CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Classified A1 (Confirmed for human.) by ACGIH, 1 (Proven for human.) by IARC.
MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Classified POSSIBLE for human. Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells. Mutagenic
for bacteria and/or yeast.
DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Classified Reproductive system/toxin/female .
Causes damage to the following organs: blood, bone marrow, central nervous system (CNS).
May cause damage to the following organs: liver, Urinary System.
Other Toxic Effects on Humans:
Very hazardous in case of inhalation.
Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, permeator), of ingestion.

Special Remarks on Chronic Effects on Humans:
May cause adverse reproductive effects (female fertility, Embryotoxic and/or foetotoxic in animal) and birth
defects.
May affect genetic material (mutagenic).
May cause cancer (tumorigenic, leukemia))
Human: passes the placental barrier, detected in maternal milk.
...