[StBernard] Oil-contaminated homes pose health risks, feds say

[Westley Annis]

http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=4097860

Oil-contaminated homes pose health risks, feds say

MERAUX, La. -- Federal agencies on Wednesday warned people here of the
health hazards of living and working in homes contaminated by an oil spill
during Hurricane Katrina, but stopped short of saying that the area should
be off limits until it is cleaned up.


Unsafe levels of diesel and oil-related organic chemicals were found in
sediment samples where about 1 million gallons of oil spilled from a Murphy
Oil Corp. storage tank, according to a report from the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease.

The agency said that people should not move back into homes where oil is
visible and that they should use protective gear when they are working
around contaminated homes. The agency said studies have shown that if
someone touches oil substances with their bare skin they may suffer from
rashes and be at a slightly higher risk of skin cancer.

A survey showed that oil ended up in 1,700 homes. A breakdown shows that 985
homes were lightly contaminated, with a "bathtub ring" of oil about 3 to 6
inches wide on them. The agency said 114 homes were heavily contaminated _
more than half contaminated _ and 286 were moderately tainted.

George Pettigrew, an ATSDR senior regional representative, said that the
long-term health risks will depend on the effectiveness of the cleanup.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Emergency Management
Agency also issued similar warnings on Wednesday. All three federal agencies
backed up findings by the state health agency, which urged people to be
cautious but not avoid the contaminated area entirely.

Environmentalists have been critical of state and federal agencies, claiming
that they have downplayed the risks.

The Murphy storage tank that leaked was dislodged by flood waters. The oil
company has denied any wrongdoing, but lawyers in a class-action lawsuit
claim that the company failed to prevent the leak.

The middle-class neighborhood affected by the spill is a scene of complete
desolation. Mounds of debris from gutted homes line the empty streets, cars
picked up by storm surge are stacked upon one another and lying against
homes and a fishing boat sits in the middle of one road.

Frustrated residents have begun returning to clean out their homes and
cleanup crews are beginning to clear debris from streets.

On Wednesday, Roy and Marie Palmer were working to salvage what they could
at their sludge-filled home.

"Murphy says our house is not in the spill zone, but there's evidence of oil
in the house and it smells," Roy Palmer said.

The retired couple said they were fortunate because National Guardsmen did
the dirty, and dangerous, job of cleaning out their house. "They said they
found snakes in the house," Roy Palmer said.