By:Wilma Subra & Marylee Orr

Louisiana Environmental Action NetworkPaul Orr

Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper

Washington, DCNovember 2, 2011

Wilma Subra

The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months.

“No relationships to disclose”

Deepwater Horizon exploded and burned on April 20, 2010

◦ 11 workers were killed

◦ The Deepwater Horizon rig sank to the       bottom of the Gulf of Mexico on Earth Day,       April 22, 2010

◦ Crude Oil flowed into the Gulf of Mexico       for 87 days from the well head 5,000 feet        below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico

172 million gallons of crude oil were        released into the environment

1.84 million gallons of Corexit 9500 and       9527 were applied to the BP crude oil

For every 93 gallons of crude oil released       into the environment by the BP spill, one       gallon of dispersant was applied.

In addition to the very large BP crude oil       spill, a very large dispersant release       occurred in the Gulf of Mexico.

BP Crude oil mixed with dispersants hit the wetlands of coastal Louisiana 9 days after the Deepwater Horizon exploded

BP Crude oil migrated into the wetlands, marshes, estuaries and beaches of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the panhandle of Florida

BP Crude oil continues to be present and wash shore along the wetlands, marshes, estuaries and beaches of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the panhandle of Florida

BP Crude oil continues to be present in the subsurface waters of the Gulf of Mexico

with crude oil and dispersants

with dispersed crude oil

crude oil dispersed as an aerosol in the air

crude oil contaminated media and materials

crude oil contaminated beaches, marshes, wetlands, and terrestrial and aquatic organisms

crude oil located in the subsurface waters and bottom areas of the Gulf of Mexico and estuary systems

washing of contaminated worker clothing

chemicals in the air from the crude anddispersants

chemicals dispersed into the air fromcontaminated beaches, marshes, and wetlands

crude oil and dispersant aerosols products of incomplete combustion from

◦ burning of the crude oil and natural gas near the well head

◦ burning of the crude oil and dispersants on the surface of the Gulf

◦ burning of the crude oil contaminated marshes along the coastal areas

of crude oil and/or dispersants of dispersed crude oil and dispersants of contaminated aquatic and terrestrial

organisms and vegetation eating and drinking in the presence of

crude contaminated media

All Pathways of Exposure continue to be completed pathways of exposure except those

◦ due to burning of the crude oil, dispersant andnatural gas in the offshore areas near the wellhead

◦ dispersed crude oil and dispersants due to thecrude oil slick

Coastal Community members from New Iberia, Louisiana eastward across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the panhandle of Florida exposed to the aerosol of crude oil and dispersants which blew on shore when the crude oil slick was in the Gulf of Mexico.

BP and BP contracted cleanup workers including a large population of the commercial fisher community

Offshore workers exposed to the BP crude oil, dispersants, and air emissions from the burning of the crude and natural gas

Community members along the coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico coming in contact with the crude oil and dispersants

Tourist visiting the coastal areas along the northern Gulf of Mexico

Recreational hunters and fishermen

Commercial fishermen harvesting seafood

Divers coming in contact with the crude oil slick and crude oil plumes in the water columns of the Gulf of Mexico

Soil/Sediment Vegetation Seafood

◦ Shrimp◦ Crabs◦ Snails◦ Oysters◦ Mussels ◦ Finfish

Human Blood

Soil/Sediment/Vegetation/Seafood

Oil Range Organic Petroleum Hydrocarbons Alkylated Polynuclear Aromatic

Hydrocarbons Dispersants Heavy Metals Human Blood Volatile Organic Chemicals

Wetlands and Ecosystem Soil/Sediment

Soil/Sediment from Atchafalaya Bay eastward to the Louisiana/Mississippi state line contained:

◦ 6 to 89 individual Alkylated Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) which corresponded to the fingerprint of the BP Louisiana Sweet Crude

Oil Range Organic Petroleum Hydrocarbons (ORO) up to 11,600 mg/kg (1/16%)

Sixty percent of the soil/sediment samples had up to 18 PAHs in excess of the Marine Sediment Screening Levels

All of the areas sampled had soil/sediments contaminated with Alkylated PAHs and Oil Range Organic Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Blue Crab◦ Oil Range Organics 2,230 to 3,583 mg/kg◦ Up to 4 Alkylated PAHs, Fluoranthene,

Naphthalene, Phenanthrene and Pyrene in concentrations from 84.6 to 162 ug/kg

Shrimp◦ Oil Range Organics 8,356 mg/kg◦ 5 Alkylated PAHs, Anthracene, Fluoranthene,

Naphthalene, Phenanthrene and Pyrene up to 69.4 ug/kg

Oyster◦ Oil Range Organics 8,815 to 12,500 mg/kg◦ Up the 4 Alkylated PAHs, Fluoranthene,

Naphthalene, Phenanthrene, and Pyrene in concentrations of 1.4 to 63 ug/kg

Mussel◦ Oil Range Organics 6,900 mg/kg◦ Alkylated PAHs Anthracene, 2-Methylnaphthalene,

Naphthalene, and Phenanthrene at a total concentration of 386 ug/kg

LEAN LMRK E-Alerts Immediately issues when data and

information became available Distributed to more than 3,000

◦ Grass Roots Environmental Organizations◦ National and International Environmental Org.◦ Governmental Agencies◦ Businesses◦ Media

Organizations receiving the E-Alerts distribute to their constituents and other organizations

Testing Results Returning With High LevelsReport by: Wilma SubraResults of sampling  performed by the Lower Mississippi River Keeper in the Lower Atchafalaya Bay area on August 2, 2010

The shore of the Gulf of Mexico east of Oyster Bayou, where the Atchafalaya Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, contained visible oil on the vegetation along the shore line.  Soil in this location contained Carbon Disulfide, 378 mg/kg Hydrocarbons and six Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (0.222 mg/kg). The oiled vegetation contained 2.3% Hydrocarbons and 31 PAHs (0.554 mg/kg) that  corresponded strongly to the PAHs in the Deepwater Horizon Crude Oil spill.  Samples of Blue Crab and Fiddler Crab contained 2,230 mg/kg hydrocarbons.Oysters sampled from a reef on Oyster Bayou in Atchafalaya Bay contained 8,815 mg/kg Hydrocarbons.

At the mouth of Pass-a-Loutre, in the reed vegetation along the shore of an island, a sediment sample was collected.   The sediment contained 71 mg/kg Hydrocarbons and 14 PAHs (0.8713 mg/kg).  The PAHs in the sample weakly support that the contaminants in the sediment are associated with the crude oil from the Deepwater Horizon.  A muscle sample collected at this location contained 6,900 mg/kg Hydrocarbons and seven PAHs (0.386 mg/kg).

A sample of oysters was collected from oysters growing on  an abandoned crab trap between Pass-a-Loutre and Redfish Bay.  The oysters contained  12,500 mg/kg (1.25%) Hydrocarbons and two PAHs (0.063 mg/kg).

Along a beach area near Redfish Bay, samples were collected from a stained area along a sandy beach area and from a vegetated area behind the beach.  The beach area had clean-up waste materials and supplies left behind by cleanup crews.  A small water body adjacent to the beach had a boom in the water and a small boat used to place the poles that secured the boom was stained with oil.  The beach area contained a number of tar balls.

Workshops in the areas where samples were collected

Workshops throughout the entire northern Gulf Coast to provide desperately needed information

Workshops at state, regional and national meetings

Developed fact sheets on health impacts associated with the BP crude and dispersants used

Issued video programs Worked with print, audio, and video media to

distribute information to the public

Educated communities about the status of the seafood in their areas

Provided risk reduction measures communities could utilize

Alerted agencies as to locations where contamination had been verified

Worked with agencies to perform additional testing of contaminated areas

Informed local, state and federal environmental and human health agencies

and policy makers

Headaches  Difficulty Breathing Nausea  Respiratory Impacts Vomiting Asthma Attacks Diarrhea  Chemical Pneumonia Dizziness  Chest Pains Confusion Skin Irritation, Damage Loss of Balance Eye, Nose, Throat, Lung Irritation Damage to Liver, Lungs, Kidneys Damage to Respiratory System

Decreased Lung Function Central Nervous System Effects Depression Neurological/Nervous System Damage Blood Disorders Damage to Red Blood Cells Blood Cancer – Leukemia, Aplastic

Anemia Immune System Damage and

Suppression Cardiovascular System Stress and

Damage Increased Severity of Chronic Obstructive

Pulmonary Dis. Gastrointestinal Disturbance Endocrine Disruption Hormone Level Disruption Genetic Damage, Mutations and Birth

Defects Reproductive and Developmental Damage

Infertility

Chemicals Detected in Excess of NHANES 95th Percentile

◦ Benzene 36 times◦ Ethylbenzene 10.7 times◦ m,p-Xylene 5.7 times

Results provided to individual tested Evaluation of results provided to individual

tested Data summaries by occupation and

exposure routes provided in reports Results of health surveys provided in

reports and presentations Retesting results after medical treatment

provided to individual tested

Individuals consist of: ◦ current cleanup workers ◦ former cleanup worker◦ Fishermen◦ Divers◦ coastal residents 

Most Prevalent Health Symptoms Recorded by a Physician◦ Psychological damage/memory loss◦ GI Problems◦ Chest Pains◦ Cough

Eye, Nose and Throat Irritation Blurred Vision and Loss of

Vision Ear Infections Sore Throat Severe Coughing for many

months Croup like Cough Hoarseness Difficulty Breathing Shortness of Breathe Respiratory Distress Pneumonia Lung Irritation Asthma Attacks Decreased Lung Function

Chest Pains and Tightness Pulmonary Edema Bleeding from Nose, Eyes

and Ears Internal Bleeding Blood in Urine Rectal Bleeding Blood in Stool Diarrhea Nausea Vomiting Dizziness Weakness Loss of Balance Headaches Kidney Pain

Lower Back Pain Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary

Disease Abdominal Pain Gastrointestinal Disturbance Joint and Muscle Pain Weakness and Fatigue Seizures Loss of Weight Skin Irritation Burning and Lesions Nerves on Edge Mental Confusion Confusion Psychological damage Short Term and Long Term Memory

Loss Damage  to Liver and Kidneys

Immune System Damage and Suppression

Central Nervous System Impacts

Cardiovascular System Stress Neurological/Nervous System

Damage Blood Disorders Damage to Red Blood Cells Aplastic Anemia Leukemia Chest Pain Heart Palpitations Hypertension Endocrine Disruption Hormone Level Disruption Miscarriages Metal taste in mouth Depression

Educated coastal communities, cleanup workers, health care and other governmental agencies with information on the health impacts experienced along the northern Gulf of Mexico

Correlated the experienced health impacts with those known to be associated with BP crude and dispersants

Identified the desperate need for health care and educated health care agencies concerning the large number of individuals needing health care

Identified pathways of exposure and mechanisms to reduce exposure