BP Oil Spill, BP Oil Spill Cleanup Workers BLOG POST
Getting Regular Medical Evaluations
Steve Kolian, a diver who was hired by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collect water and marine life samples following the 2010 BP Oil Spill, is still suffering from numerous health problems, including periodic skin irritations, cognitive difficulties, nausea, dizziness, and gastrointestinal issues.
The Government Accountability Project (GAP) and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) have documented Kolian’s story and the stories of many cleanup workers and residents of Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi exposed to unprecedented levels of oil dispersants. These dispersants consists of 1.84 million gallons of toxic chemicals used by BP Oil in an effort to hide millions of barrels of spilled oil and to minimize the company’s liability — in a gruesome account of extraordinary corporate greed in the face of the worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history.
Health problems to watch closely
We recently discussed a mass study being conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to monitor the health of 33,000 individuals involved in cleanup efforts. Cleanup workers should be particularly concerned about their exposure to the known carcinogens present in Corexit, the chemical dispersant used to dissolve the oil — a product that is banned in many countries, including BP’s native United Kingdom.
Following are current and long-term health risks associated with the BP Oil Spill:
- Respiratory ailments
- Heart palpitations and other problems
- Neurological problems, including memory loss, migraines, seizures and temporary paralysis
- Gastrointestinal issues, including rapid weight loss
- Skin irritations
- Ear, nose and throat conditions
- Impaired vision
- Blood in urine
- Anxiety, depression and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Liver and kidney damage
- Chemical sensitivities
Getting frequent checkups is crucial
The 10-year NIEHS study provides free health evaluations once every three years, but a lot can happen over the course of three years. We recommend that all people exposed to the crude oil and the chemical dispersants get medical checkups at least once a year, if not more often. The risk of chronic illness and premature death is very real—note that the average life span of the Exxon Valdez cleanup workers is around age 50.
The Downs Law Group is committed to pursuing compensation from BP for its extraordinary disregard for the safety and health of its cleanup workers and residents of the Gulf of Mexico. It is crucial that you get frequent medical checkups to assure that any illness is detected early and treated properly, so you have all the documentation you need to obtain the compensation you deserve.
