Sewage in Floodwaters Carries Disease

[beetbox]

Sewage in Floodwaters Carries Disease

Friday September 2, 2005 1:46 AM

By JOHN HEILPRIN

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sewage and chemicals are mixed into a potentially toxic bathtub soaking New Orleans, posing the threat of disease for residents forced to wade in Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters.

``Probably the more immediate health risk to the people is that whatever was in the sewer is in the water,'' said John Pardue, director of the Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. ``Whatever bacterial or viral diseases that people put into the system before the flooding is now in the water.''

Meanwhile, scientists say they're alarmed by how much of the region's environmental defenses against future hurricanes and other big storms have become seriously compromised.

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Along with the sewage in the floodwater is a witches' brew of chemicals from a variety of sources, including leaking fuels and oils from gas stations and submerged cars, paints and solvents from small businesses and household cleaners and pesticides from peoples' homes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5249829,00.html

[Shadder]

1. Gee, that's not what the fuckhead from FEMA said

this afternoon.

[hatrack]

2. What an AMAZING headline

I never knew that! :eyes:

[NorthernSpy]

3. and yet some dimbulb just tried to convince me...

... that shop merchandise that's going to spend weeks stewing in the fumes of this witches' brew will still be perfectly good when New Orleans reopens for bizniss.

Some people...

:eyes: