Last week, the president of Plaquemines Parish rode with the Coast Guard and saw large areas of Louisiana marsh covered in BP’s oil. Despite all the oil still present, officials from the Coast Guard, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) continue to tell residents that their air, water and seafood are safe.
However, residents in the affected areas say otherwise. People living along the Gulf Coast, from Terrebonne Parish to western Florida, are reporting acute symptoms allegedly attributed to BP’s crude oil and the chemical used to sink it. The oil continues to wash ashore, and the weather is uncovering additional tar mats.
One resident’s blood tested positive for chemicals present in BP’s oil and dispersants. She experiences stomach pain and a rash all around her abdominal area and armpits. She has a dry, hacking cough, swelled sinuses and a constant thirst. The chemicals found in her blood included: Ethylbenzene (a form of benzene found in the body when it begins to break down), Hexane (an organic chemical in BP’s crude oil) and M,p-Xylene (a flammable liquid refined from crude oil).
A man who lives 100 miles from the coastline had his blood tested and it was positive for BP’s toxic chemicals. The chemicals can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, kidney damage, lung damage, cancer, dizziness, stomach discomfort, among other symptoms.
Exposure to environmental hazards and toxic chemicals is serious. Contact a New Orleans injury lawyer if you suffer symptoms of chemical exposure. A New Orleans injury attorney can help you receive compensation for your injuries.