Tests that have been undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) have revealed potentially harmful levels of toxic materials in the soil of New Orleans. In addition, many disturbing lapses in responsibility have left the city with little or no efforts to clean up this "toxic gumbo." According to a senior EPA official, "the pollution [is] far worse than had been admitted, because [the] agency was failing to take enough samples and was refusing to make public the results of those it had analyzed."
Arsenic
The EPA and LDEQ found unacceptably high levels of arsenic, both as a particulate (meaning particles that can be breathed in, even by a passerby, when soil is disturbed) and as a soil contaminant. "The average level of arsenic found in our testing in Orleans Parish was 12.2 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of soil. This is more than 31 times higher than the Region 6 EPA soil cleanup level for residential areas, which is set at 0.39 mg/kg to protect against cancer."
Endotoxins and Mold
"Endotoxin is a biological toxin that is part of the outer membrane of some types of bacteria (gram negative bacteria). Endotoxin causes a powerful inflammatory reaction in humans, especially at high doses, when it causes fever, flu-like symptoms, cough, headache and respiratory distress."
"Mold can be a dangerous indoor air contaminant and its presence in residential and occupational settings usually requires prompt attention and cleanup. Mold growing on damp surfaces releases spores that become airborne and can be inhaled, leading to a host of respiratory problems. Some molds also produce chemicals (mycotoxins) that may be toxic to humans if inhaled. Mold exposure can cause congestion, sneezing, runny or itchy nose, and throat irritation; more serious symptoms include major allergic attacks, cough, asthma attacks, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (a pneumonia-like illness with symptoms including difficulty breathing and fevers). Some studies have shown that outdoor levels of mold spores are directly associated with childhood asthma attacks requiring a visit to an emergency room."
Pesticides
The level of DDT and one of its breakdown products exceeded the Region 6 EPA soil cleanup levels by approximately twofold. Two other organochlorine pesticides, dieldrin and heptachlor epoxide (a breakdown product of heptachlor) were also found at levels significantly above the cleanup levels. In fact, the dieldrin level was nearly sevenfold higher than the regulatory cleanup level. All of these pesticides have been banned in the United States for more than 25 years, and they are now also banned worldwide by international treaty because of their serious toxicity and environmental persistence. These chemicals are suspected human carcinogens and have been linked to neurological problems and disruption of the endocrine system.
Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
Independent testing by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and others revealed high levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at one site in New Orleans. PAHs are cancer-causing chemicals from soot and petroleum-based products. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), "PAHs are a group of chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, or other organic substances, such as tobacco and charbroiled meat. There are more than 100 different PAHs. PAHs can be harmful to your health under some circumstances. Several of the PAHs have caused tumors in laboratory animals when they breathed these substances in the air, when they ate them, or when they had long periods of skin contact with them. Studies of people show that individuals exposed by breathing or skin contact for long periods to mixtures that contain PAHs and other compounds can also develop cancer.
Heavy Metals
The NRDC soil sampling revealed a variety of other contaminants, including metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury.
According to the ATSDR, the effects of lead are the same whether it enters the body through breathing or swallowing. Lead can affect almost every organ and system in your body. The main target for lead toxicity is the nervous system, both in adults and children. Long-term exposure of adults can result in decreased performance in some tests that measure functions of the nervous system. It may also cause weakness in fingers, wrists, or ankles. Lead exposure also causes small increases in blood pressure, particularly in middle-aged and older people and can cause anemia. Exposure to high lead levels can severely damage the brain and kidneys in adults or children and ultimately cause death. In pregnant women, high levels of exposure to lead may cause miscarriage. High-level exposure in men can damage the organs responsible for sperm production.
Breathing high levels of cadmium severely damages the lungs and can cause death. Eating food or drinking water with very high levels severely irritates the stomach, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. Long-term exposure to lower levels of cadmium in air, food, or water leads to a buildup of cadmium in the kidneys and possible kidney disease. Other long-term effects are lung damage and fragile bones.
Several studies have shown that chromium(VI) compounds can increase the risk of lung cancer. Animal studies have also shown an increased risk of cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the EPA have determined that chromium(VI) is a human carcinogen.
The nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury. Methylmercury and metallic mercury vapors are more harmful than other forms, because more mercury in these forms reaches the brain. Exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic, or organic mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus. Effects on brain functioning may result in irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, and memory problems. Short-term exposure to high levels of metallic mercury vapors may cause effects including lung damage, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, and eye irritation.
