Health | The Health Impacts Of The Spill In The Gulf Still Unknown

A year later, a study of workers involved in cleaning has just begun, the researchers say, and probably will not be able to assess all the effects on people or the environment.Although the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is currently conducting a study of 55,000 workers were involved in cleaning, there are many uncertainties about this, Bernard Goldstein, MD, University of Pittsburgh colleagues reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study is open for the lack of specific evaluation criteria, and was not and 'funded for at least six months after the disaster, they wrote. This may introduce a recall bias among patients, and restricts the use of biomarkers of exposure.For example, hemoglobin and albumin adducts of benzene is unlikely to persist over time, Goldstein and colleagues wrote.

"Despite a growing literature describing the impact of oil spills to health," they wrote, "it is difficult to answer the many questions raised by doctors and the public about this spill or the risk of falls."
In general, the potential health consequences of oil spills are divided into four categories: toxic effects, worker safety, the effects on mental health and ecosystem effects.

Goldstein and colleagues have written there are a number of contaminants that may cause concern, particularly for benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).Both are carcinogenic benzene, but won 't accumulate in the tissues, while HAP will. It 'more persistent and can cause lung cancer and skin cancer, the researchers said.On the other hand, tn 'seem to be many concerns about the ingredients in dispersants is dioctyl sodium, a commonly used laxative.

It 's also the 2-butoxyethanol, which is known to cause hemolytic anemia and hepatic angiosarcoma in rodents but not humans.With regard to the safety of workers, the researchers said there are few studies on the implications for long-term health in this population. However, spills have been documented in previous reports of impaired lung function and bronchial.

Symptoms of mental health are often reported by workers and community members to answer after the disaster of the oil. In fact, according to the researchers, calls for mental health and domestic violence hot lines in the Gulf region have increased as a result of a fall.
With regard to the ecosystem, the security problems of seafood are always present in the United States, wrote, and the pressure remains regarding limitations on the collection and drilling.
Ultimately, Goldstein and colleagues, NIEHS scientists "need to link with local researchers who have basic information about residents of the Gulf from the post-Hurricane Katrina and with local doctors who can cases of communication to the public health authorities that increase clinical suspicion of an association with the oil spill. "
"In addition to research," they added, "networks of clinical guidelines immediately treat the symptoms of physical health and mental existing treaties, such as asthma and hypertension are essential, particularly for vulnerable populations."