[StBernard] Doctor: Chemicals leaked from Chalmette Refinery same as in Chinese drywall

[Westley Annis]

by Meg Farris / Eyewitness News

wwltv.com

Posted on September 16, 2010 at 7:06 PM

CHALMETTE, La. -- A public heath doctor says the chemicals that were leaked
on labor day by the Chalmette Refinery are the same as what's in Chinese
drywall, the exhaust of a car, and volcanic ash.

Dr. James Diaz, of the LSU Health Sciences Center's School of Public Health,
said that it is normal that people in the affected area would have had
irritated eyes, noses and throats. But the weather that day kept the
concentrations from being too high.

He also said that it is not good to breath in the tiny power particles from
the spent catalyst that were released. But most people should be fine now
except for people with other health problems.

"I certainly think that if anyone has a pre-existing cardiopulmonary
problem, and I'm talking about asthma, COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, or even a cardiac condition such as congestive heart failure, that
can result in a pulmonary condition called pulmonary edema, these
individuals should not be part of the clean up," Diaz said.

Diaz said that if people with these illness are still having symptoms from
the day of the chemical leak, they should go see a doctor.