The news media is full of speculations and assentions regarding the contaminated, polluted, poisoned, varmit infested flood waters in New Orleans.
Have samples been analyized and results made public?
How will the residues of all the contaminates affect the future use of public and private structures and the health of future occupants?
When, if ever, will the public get facts instead of BS?
I don’t know about that, but there is a lot of oil, gasoline, sewage (full of E. Coli) and lead in those waters.
Maybe a lot, maybe none. I wouldn’t count on there being any more residents in the flooded areas. Most of those buildings are basically gone, even if they’re still standing. Wood structures will be permanently weakened long before they get the water pumped out.
On the upside, this does mean that the whole place will pretty much be wiped clean by constrution, which means it might be made safe again. Still, I’m not sure a lot of people are going to want to come live there.
new orleans was a wonderfull city with history, a unique culture, very good people, and some problems. show me any major city that doesn’t have problems. new orleans is not the french quarter. in my years as a new orleanian i would go to the quarter once or twice a year for events but all in all people of new orleans really wanted to avoid the tourists.
the water has been evaluated and found toxic. doctors are finding visible signs of illness that are being attributed to the waters. i would consider the tests a formallity considering that the smell alone would indicate some foul biological processes.
it is a shame that the city is destroyed and going to have to be decontaminated. i’m afraid the city has lost it’s soul. i only hope that the people of new orleans that have been spread to the wind can interject a little southern culture into some much needed places. i love the thought of all 45 members of the thibodeaux family teaching the entire state of utah how to sing, dance, drink, cook, eat, and generally enjoy the simple things in life.
The CDC is releasing information and advice as facts become known, such as this page on E. coli in the floodwaters.
[QUOTE=the water has been evaluated and found toxic. doctors are finding visible signs of illness that are being attributed to the waters. i would consider the tests a formallity considering that the smell alone would indicate some foul biological processes. [/QUOTE]
From everything I’ve read, the water flooding parts of the city sounds a lot like the water in the canals every day. It’s not safe to drink and not even advisable to bathe in, but “toxic” implies a danger that just isn’t there. (Smell is not a reliable indicator of unwholesomeness; try some Limburger cheese some time.)
As for “illness that are being attributed to the waters,” as of 4:00 pm EST on 9 Sep, no significant number of illnesses directly associated with contaminated water exposure has been reported to the CDC. The most serious water-associated problem is Vibrio vulnificus infection, but you can get that from warm, Gulf Coast water anytime, its not related to any contamination. There are other conditions associated with dampness and prolonged water immersion but that are probably being seen, but none related to the oil, sewage, and other dreck in the water.
Springears: “When, if ever, will the public get facts instead of BS?” This can’t happen until someone hires a reporter who has a passing understanding of science or someone appoints to the highest government positions persons who have experience with emergencies. We’ve been reading for weeks nonsensical pronoucements by high government officials quoted without comment by ignorant reporters. Meanwhile, the experts (e.g., career civil servants at FEMA, DoD, HHS, etc.) have to bite their tongue. I am confident when all is said and done that (1) everything posted by the CDC on its web site will turn out to be true or close to it, (2) the “toxic water” will turn out to be an insignifant issue for the health of both the environment and the people, (3) the death count for HK for all of the U.S. will be <500, (4) and that the top levels of HHS, FEMA, and DHS will remain turkey farms.