Oil disaster causes persistent public health crisis: Large number of children with medical and psychological problems
Washington (AFP) Aug 3, 2010 – Oil is no longer spewing from the ruptured BP oil well but the disaster is far from over for families who live along the US Gulf coast, and their kids in particular, a major study said Tuesday. Of 1,200 coastal residents surveyed last month by researchers at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University, a third said their kids have developed mental, behavioral or physical problems because of the spill. The problems ranged from respiratory problems and rashes to feelings of sadness or nervousness, difficulty socializing with other children, or trouble getting to sleep, parents told the researchers. More than 70 percent of parents said their children were doing less swimming, boating and playing in the sand, and around one in five said their kids were spending less time outdoors. “Our survey, done after the well was capped, shows there is a significant and persistent public health crisis underscored by the large number of children with medical and psychological problems related to the oil disaster,” said Irwin Redlener, director of the NCDP. …
