BP Oil Spill, BP Oil Spill Cleanup Workers BLOG POST
Crude Oil and Corexit Cocktail Continue to Contaminate the Gulf
In the corporate panic to contain the largest spill of crude oil in U.S. history and the need to maintain a positive public media image, BP sprayed an unprecedented amount of the chemical dispersant Corexit into the Gulf of Mexico. Years later, the toxic compound of Corexit and crude oil continues to affect the quality of life in the region and there seems to be no end in sight.
Water supply
As of early October 2013, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website specifically stated that the spill should have no effect on drinking water, and that any questions residents might have about their water should be directed to their drinking water provider. The website fails to mention that water from the Gulf, mixed with oil and Corexit could make its way into the ecosystem eventually, washing up onto the Gulf’s shores and seeping insidiously into the ground water. Florida’s ground water aqueduct system provides drinking water to 18 million residents.
Air quality
The EPA’s website assures residents that the chemical smell caused by the burning oil was not hazardous to their health, and has never directly addressed the potential hazards of inhaling particle matter created by the burning oil and Corexit. This is despite the fact that residents quickly began to show signs of respiratory illness as a result of inhaling the chemical mist.
Food supply
One-third of the nation’s seafood comes from the Gulf region. In the aftermath of the spill and cleanup, fishermen reported an 80 percent reduction in sea life, as well as a disturbing amount of visible mutation in shellfish and many varieties of fish in the region.
If you are suffering from illness related to the BP Oil Spill, speak to an attorney at The Downs Law Group. We help residents of the Gulf suffering from symptoms caused by the spilled oil and dispersant chemicals receive the compensation they deserve.
