Boat Crew Members Hospitalized During Gulf Oil Spill Cleanup
Two men involved in private contract efforts to clean the recent gulf oil spill remained hospitalized Thursday evening after reportedly becoming sick while working in the waters of Breton Sound, according to local hospital officials.
The U.S. Coast Guard called a total of 125 boats involved in oil cleanup operations back to port after seven crew members on four different boats became ill Wednesday night. After being hospitalized overnight, five victims were later released.
Coast Guard Capt. Meredith Austin said Thursday that the workers had been issued protective clothing including gloves and boot coverings but none of the workers received respirators because air monitoring showed safe levels of airborne pollutants.
The cleanup fleet will remain in port pending an investigation, Austin said. In addition to the Coast Guard, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and safety officers from BP are currently investigating the illnesses.
The men, ranging in age from 19 to 50, were taken to West Jefferson Medical Center near New Orleans. The men were treated for severe headaches, dizziness, nausea and skin irritation, said hospital spokeswoman Taslin Alfonzo.
Alfonzo said the emergency room physician could not determine what caused the men to become sick, but said they were exposed to a chemical-based irritant and treated with intravenous fluids to dilute any possible toxins.
A growing number of out-of-work fishermen who are taking jobs with BP laying booms or operating skimming boats are reportedly becoming ill after being near the oil slick or related dispersants. However, a BP spokesman on Wednesday said the company was unaware of any health issues associated with the cleanup.
State officials are requesting the federal government to place mobile health clinics in the rural southern part of the state where fishermen live in an effort to better deal with any potential environmental health threats.
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The news have been terrible this week about the gulf oilspill and brazil flood, what do you think about it?