From Washington's Blog.
As I have previously noted, Corexit is toxic, is less effective than other dispersants, and is actually worsening the damage caused by the oil spill.
Now, two toxicologists are saying that Corexit is much more harmful to human health and marine life than we've been told.
Specifically Gulf toxicologist Dr. Susan Shaw - Founder and Director of the Marine Environmental Research Institute - dove into the oil spill to examine the chemicals present.
Dr. Shaw told CNN:
If I can tell you what happens — because I was in the oil — to people…
Shrimpers throwing their nets into water… [then] water from the nets splashed on his skin. …
[He experienced a] headache that lasted 3 weeks… heart palpitations… muscle spasms… bleeding from the rectum…
And that’s what that Corexit does, it ruptures red blood cells, causes internal bleeding, and liver and kidney damage. …
This stuff is so toxic combined… not the oil or dispersants alone. …
Very, very toxic and goes right through skin.
***
The reason this is so toxic is because of these solvents [from dispersant] that penetrate the skin of anything that’s going through the dispersed oil takes the oil into the cells — takes the oil into the organs… and this stuff is toxic to every organ system in the body. …
Similarly, marine biologist and toxicologist Dr. Chris Pincetich - who has an extensive background in testing the affects of chemicals on fish - says that Corexit disrupts cell membranes.
He also explains that EPA toxicity testing for Corexit is woefully inadequate, since EPA testing for mortality usually only requires a 96-hour time frame. His doctoral research found that fish that were alive at 96 hours after exposure to pesticide were dead at two weeks, so the chemicals were considered non-lethal for the purposes of the test.
Drs. Shaw and Pincetich are wildlife conservationists. But even industry scientists working for Exxon and the manufacturer of Corexit itself admit that the stuff is toxic.
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The video of Dr.Pincetich was most informative and enlightening. In the ongoing hysteria surrounding the widening catastrophe it was a good grounding in the actual ramifications of the use of this toxic chemical and its implications for all of us but particularly and most immediately the gulf population. As usual this video led into many others which seem to suggest that an evacuation is possibly imminent. Your posts are really invaluable in discerning the real facts on the ground concerning many of the crucial and pressing issues which we find ourselves facing. Your consistent methodical and unflagging research is much appreciated and an inspiration. Viva!
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome yard. i agree it's a really good article. this article is straight from George Washington's Blog, I highly recommend it. he's done alot of research on the gulf situation since it started.
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