Four Years After Prestige Oil Spill, Cleanup Crew Members Show Genetic Changes - DPA

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Madrid- Four years after the oil tanker Prestige caused Spain's biggest environmental disaster, people who cleaned oil sludge from beaches are exhibiting genetic alterations and respiratory problems, the daily El Pais reported Tuesday. The Prestige spilled most of its cargo of 77,000 tons of fuel oil before and after sinking off the northwestern region of Galicia in November 2002.

The disaster caused instant health problems among the thousands of volunteer and professional cleaners, such as headaches, respiratory symptoms, irritated eyes, gastro-intestinal troubles and insomnia.

Preliminary results from further studies, however, indicate that the cleaners' close contact with the oil sludge also caused them longer-term effects, including chromosomal and hormonal alterations.

The effects may not always be healed by the body's natural repair mechanisms, but they also do not mean that the persons in question will develop cancer, which is caused by a combination of factors, experts were quoted as saying.

EDIT

http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Spanish_oil_disaster_altered_cleane_12192006.html

[JohnWxy]

1. Damn! Would have recommended this but saw it too late. Thanks.

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2. Not a problem - and thanks for tuning in!

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