Toxic Oil Spill Chemicals Showing Up In Gulf Coast Residents' Blood

TREE HUGGER.com

Nine months after the Gulf oil spill and the effects of exposure in Gulf residents is starting to show up in people's blood. The Institute for Southern Studies reports that the Louisiana Environmental Action Network has collected blood samples from 12 people between the ages of 10 and 66, finding that four of them had unusually high levels of benzene.

Among the individuals tested were cleanup workers, crabbers and people living along the coast. Among those with elevated benzene levels were three adults and one ten year old child, all were crabbers. The 10 year old is now suffering severe respiratory problems as a result of chemical exposure.

See more of the endless disaster in the Gulf here.