New Orleans Environmental Blog - comparing Katrina to Firefighters 911

[Guest guest]

“KATRINA COUGH†BEGINS TO SPREAD IN NEW ORLEANS

The _Los Angeles Times_

(http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cough4nov04,0,7514027.stor\

y?coll=la-home-headlines) reports today that “

Katrina Cough†has started to affect those who have returned to the City.

Residents who have been exposed to toxic muck, that has turned into toxic dust,

have started to complain of “sinus headaches, congestion, runny noses and

sore

throats,†which one doctor describes as “very prevalent†among returnees.

Yet, the EPA continues to maintain that the air is safe in New Orleans,

telling the City Council that the air is no different than before Katrina.

Additionally, in the LA Times story, government health agencies say there is no

real longterm problem. This is, they say, simply an allergic reaction.

Where have I heard this before?

In New York, post 9/11, the EPA and other government agencies did everything

within their power to downplay any health risks to those exposed to World

Trade Center dust, basically calling anyone who tried to warn the public

alarmist.

The comparisons are eerie. Just look at these quotes from today’s LA Times

story compared to New York, post 9/11.

_LA TIMES, TODAY_

(http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cough4nov04,0,7514027.stor\

y?coll=la-home-headlines) : “Numerous factors have

contributed to the public's confusion…. For example, despite the mold

warnings,

the government has issued repeated public assurances that the air quality in

areas affected by Katrina is safe. But tests of air quality have been aimed

almost entirely at toxins, such as benzene, in areas where the storm caused oil

spills. There has been very little testing, officials said, of " biologicals "

— namely, the airborne mold that appears to be causing much of the

problem.Most state and federal officials believe there is no need for additional

testing because the contamination is confined largely to houses that were

flooded

during the storm. " It is an indoor environmental problem, primarily, " said Dr.

Redd, chief of the air pollution and respiratory health branch at

the National Center for Environmental Health, an arm of the federal Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention.â€

_WASHINGTON POST, JANUARY 8, 2002_

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A11173-2002Jan7?language=printer) :

“The EPA, which has conducted thousands

of tests of Lower Manhattan's air since Sept. 11, has repeatedly assured

residents that the air is safe to breathe. Doctors note that some symptoms

could

be caused or enhanced by stress -- and many will undoubtedly dissipate as the

last smoldering fires go out and the air grows clearer….

Alerted to concerns about Tabb's building, he said, the project hired an

independent industrial hygienist to conduct tests of surfaces there on Dec. 3,

using methods published by the American Society for Testing and Materials. The

tests found the presence of settled asbestos dust 555 times above the

suggested acceptable level.

Asked about those results, spokesman Geoff of the city's Department of

Environmental Protection said the department does not recognize this type of

test, and that its own tests at the building, done on Dec. 12, had come back

negative.â€

LA TIMES, TODAY: “Among healthy people, the condition is not considered

serious and can generally be treated with antihistamines, nasal sprays or, in

the

case of bacterial infections, antibiotics.â€

_FOX NEWS, JANUARY 11 2002_

(http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,42730,00.html) : “The Uniformed

Firefighters Association estimates that about one-third

of its 9,000 members suffer from " World Trade Center cough. " One must wonder,

though, how many of these men are simply suffering from the flu-related

symptoms — it is flu season after all.

What's going on with the Tabbs and others, if not World Trade Center

Syndrome? My bet is a combination of anxiety salted with hypochondria. Stress

is a

well-known asthma and headache trigger.â€

Many reporters trusted government spin, both from Federal and City agencies.

After all, these were government agencies charged with doing everything they

could to protect the public health. Why in the hell would they want to

downplay health risks, and endanger the public health?!

Why would the Pentagon, which is supposed to help provide for Troops and

protect them continue to refuse to acknowledge things are screwed up in Iraq

and

our Troops need help?

In their quest to be “fair and balanced,†the press overcompensates,

unfortunately. Whether it is Iraq or Gulf War Syndrome or World Trade Center

cough

or Katrina Cough, the media so tries to not be alarmist that it ends up being

apologist. In the end, that keeps pressure off the decision makers and

things don’t get done right until it is too late.

So what happened to those who had World Trade Center cough? _Well, read this

story _ (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=1278934) from yesterday,

which reads, in part:

“The latest follow-up report on lung function in New York City firefighters

shows that firefighters who served in rescue efforts in the World Trade

Center collapse are showing " accelerated pulmonary function declineâ€â€¦. "

Yes, that’s right. That cough that was just stress, or allergies and was

supposed to be short-term has resulted in pulmonary decline that is 12 times

higher than the normal aging process.

If Mayor Nagin doesn’t act like a leader and take charge, and if the EPA

doesn’t stop sending it’s downplayed messages, they will have blood on

their

hands.