An environmental expert fears that Gulf Coast residents and volunteers exposed t

August 26, 2006

`It's Incompetence'

An environmental expert fears that Gulf Coast residents and volunteers

exposed to deadly toxins could suffer health effects similar to those

of 9/11 workers.

WEB EXCLUSIVE

By Jessica Bennett

Newsweek

Updated: 6:33 a.m. PT Aug 24, 2006

Aug. 24, 2006 - You’ve seen the awful pictures: rotting houses knocked off their

foundations, walls mottled with mold, floors coated in grimy mud, piles of

God-knows-what towering over empty streets. For Hurricane Katrina survivors and

volunteers sent to help, the cleanup isn’t just unpleasant—it’s potentially

sickening.

Like the 9/11 workers, many of those working in the Katrina rubble are being

exposed to deadly toxins, says Hugh Kaufman, a senior policy analyst for the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington. With more than 35 years of

experience in the field, he particularly worries about workers and citizens

being exposed to harmful contaminants like asbestos and mold.

A year ago, Kaufman cautioned residents about returning to the affected areas

too quickly. Now he explains to NEWSWEEK’s Jessica Bennett how dangerous the

situation remains. Excerpts:

Kaufman: 'The government has waived ... rules ... to save money'

Online Newshour

Kaufman: ‘The government has waived ... rules ... to save money’

NEWSWEEK: What’s the present environmental situation in the Gulf Coast regions

hit hardest by Katrina?

Hugh Kaufman: We’re dealing with the major issue of cleanup, and continuing to

assess the magnitude of the problem. You basically still have a large amount of

toxic material ... [and] studies have shown high levels of heavy metals in the

sediments that have coated the areas. You’ve got a tremendous amount of solid

waste—over 20 million tons—[in the form of] automobiles, trash, etc., that has

to be dealt with. And you have a problem that a number of us are raising red

flags about, which is [the lack of] protective equipment for people who are

involved in cleanup.

CONTINUED

Recommended Posts