Posted on 09/06/2005 2:14:44 PM PDT by finnman69
Thousands of hurricane survivors who spent hours trapped in or wading through floodwaters likely exposed themselves to a wide range of bacteria and other contaminants.
Microbiologist Paul Pearce found total sewage bacteria in a water sample from in New Orleans' Ninth Ward to be 45,000 times what would be considered safe for swimming in a pond or a lake. The Ninth Ward was one of the city's hardest-hit neighborhoods.
"In terms of total microorganisms in floodwater, this is about as bad as it can get," Pearce told ABC News. Pearce also found 2.2 million parts per unit of human waste bacteria in the floodwater, which is off the charts.
On "Good Morning America," Pearce demonstrated at Nova Biologicals lab in Conroe, Texas, how polluted water glows under a black light. He first sampled normal pond water -- the light barely glowing, indicating slight contamination. He then examined the floodwater, which fully lit up, a clear sign that the water was loaded with bacteria, according to Pearce.
Dirty Water Does a Body Bad The precise extent of the contamination is not yet known. Louisiana's chief environmental officer today said there is no evidence yet that the New Orleans waterways are a toxic wasteland. He acknowledged the presence of fecal matter, fuel, oil and other contaminants, but said testing had not detected traces of truly toxic substances like pesticides and metals. A full analysis is expected in two days.
Nonetheless, officials are advising people in the region to avoid all contact with the trash-laden, brown water flowing through the city.
"The health problems associated with sewage contamination and specifically with these types of organisms can be gastrointestinal problems, dysentery, diarrhea," Pearce said. He also found low levels of what appears to be the bacteria associated with cholera and salmonella.
Pearce stressed that simply coming into contact with the floodwater could be enough to make a person sick. Drinking the water should be out of the question.
However, some said they had little choice but to be exposed to the fetid waters. One woman, who was walking through the water, said anything was better than her time spent living in the Superdome, which had by the end of last week turned into a chaotic location strewn with garbage and human waste that evacuees were desperate to leave.
"If I had a choice to be in the water or in the dome it would be the water," said Connie Craig.
And although food, fresh water and support have started trickling in New Orleans, Pearce fears that the huge amount of sewage contamination may cause problems long after the floodwaters recede.
"Just because the water's gone does not mean the contaminating bacteria are gone," Pearce said.
I suppose it's inevitable in the enxt few days Greenpeace and other environmental groups will call for this water to be decontaminated and not just punmped out of the city into the canals that eventually find their way to the gulf.
NO, they will be quiet until it is really bad, then...just blame BUSH....
Heck, did they test the Mississippi River before the hurricane? It probably had the same level of contaminants or worse.
At which point, bureaucratic inaction will tend to work in New Orleans' favor...
The only reason I can see that they stay in the barrio is they have ulterior motives, like helping themselves to abandoned personal property. If they have criminal intent I see no reason to offer treatment for their diseases.
This is what caver mentioned on another thread.
Its sewage people, that's about all, probably because the Settlement ponds at the local turd binder were flooded. This stuff has a habit of self-degrading in less than a month.
Um, they were expecting Perrier?
I'm given to understand Emerill's restaurant contaminated most of the Warehouse district!
I'm counting on it.
Anyone seen Sean Penn lately? I hope he's still down there helping out:)
Are we supposed to be surprised?
Are we supposed to be surprised?
The city was built by the French, now it smells like the French.
Well, think about it. We get a lot of our seafood from the gulf. In addition to the oil and natural gas that is leaking into it, now we have extra feces, chemicals, and bodies to put in there?
Actually, the crabs will feed on the dead bodies, so next years crab harvest should be great!
Maybe you thought only European countries had mineral water, but let me tell you: we bottle some pretty special water right here in America.
Bottled at the source with the natural bubbling waters of Lake Nagin.
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