[CPEO-BIF] Bucket Brigade warns of toxins in St. Bernard Parish (LA)

[lsiegel@cpeo.org]

Bucket Brigade warns of toxins in St. Bernard
Post-flood muck has toxins group says St. Bernard returnees need warning

By Manuel Torres
New Orleans Times-Picayune
October 26, 2005

A Louisiana environmental group said Tuesday that the cake-like muck
that Hurricane Katrina dumped in much of St. Bernard Parish is loaded
with toxic substances in amounts exceeding federal and state recommended
levels, and the group contends that federal and parish officials are not
giving returning residents enough warning about potential health risks.

But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it has found no reason
to warn of health concerns, and St. Bernard Parish officials said they
have told residents to take precautions as needed to return into the area.

The criticism from the Louisiana Bucket Brigade came as the group
released results from its own soil testing last month in Chalmette and
Meraux. Wilma Subra, a technical analyst who reviewed the results for
the group, said substances ranging from the carcinogen benzene and other
petroleum-based chemicals to toxic metals such as arsenic and chromium
were found in excessive levels at 10 of 14 sites sampled. 

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_10_26.html#089873

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
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