Must Stop Using Toxic Dispersant Now, Says Environmental Engineer (VIDEO)

In some ways, PETA wins AND loses.

http://7bends.com/2010/06/10/evacuations-possible-for-gulf-coast-residents/
The military knows about it too.
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"Military units being put on alert?

Now, a number of independent news web sites are saying they have information that military units are being put on alert to assist in possible evacuations, including the evacuation of the whole Tampa Metro area.

According to Ben Fulford (May 31, 2010) of Labvirus, ” Gulf Evacuation Plans are on the table.” His article also includes a video of Greg Evensen, a former Kansas state patrolman, who did an interview on May 27, 2010 sharing information about a pending Gulf coast evacuation that he has received from his law enforcement contacts. Evensen says that the number of people they are preparing to evacuate is “mind boggling.”

Ben Fulford reports: “Emergency evacuations plans have been drawn up for entire Gulf of Mexico region as secret financial negotiations head to climax.

Toxic rain a possibility?

The Pentagon and US government have drawn up emergency plans to evacuate much of the population surrounding the Gulf of Mexico in anticipation of toxic rain and severe environmental damage, a military intelligence source says.

According to another independent news source, ‘the evacuation zone is expected to encompass the lower half of all gulf states – for starters – from Florida to Texas/Mexico border, possibly up to 50 million people.”

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Media blackouts and attempts to discourage social networking coverage reported

There are also reports of media blackouts by BP, and by police and authorities along the Gulf Coast. It’s been reported that journalists have been barred from taking pictures, and that the photos that have been snapped show the devastating effects on marine and plant life (which is sad), yet there are few pictures in the media showing Gulf Coast residents, pictures of BP operations, or actual oil spill relief efforts.

There are also reports out of Grand Island, Louisiana that citizens are being arrested, and have not been allowed to use their cell phone cameras to snap and post pictures, documenting what’s happening.

Today, Yana Kunichoff of TruthOut.org wrote:

“Journalists attempting to cover the BP oil spill have found themselves turned away not only by BP and its contractors, but also by the Coast Guard, local law enforcement and government officials, reported The New York Times.

According to Rhonda Panepinto, whose company Southern Seaplane was denied airspace access to fly a journalist over the spill, said she was questioned extensively by a BP contractor when making the request. ” Who was on the aircraft? Who did they work for?” recalled Panepinto. “The minute we mentioned media, the answer was: ‘Not allowed.’”

Scientists have also complained about information availability. Three weeks passed between the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, which set off the leak, and the first release by BP of images of oil gushing from the underwater pipe.”

It is unclear whether the dispersants used by BP to try and stop the oil spill, or some other reason, is the driving factor behind possible evacuations.

Some of the conspiracy-type web sites are warning that if possible mass evacuations are necessary, then U.S. citizens – including those evacuated – could be placed in FEMA camps and subject to martial law.

Health of Gulf Coast residents threatened

News sources are also claiming that “the coastal atmospheric benzene Phase 1 toxicity saturation is projected to be reached around mid-June, 2010.”

Today, Democracy Now! reported that so far, 86 people in Louisiana and Alabama have gotten sick from the oil spill and the widespread use of chemical dispersants.

“The majority of people who reported sick were clean-up workers and workers on the oil rig, whose symptoms have included throat irritation, cough, chest pain, headaches and shortness of breath.”

It appears that the real situation with the dispersants used by BP is now coming to light. Infowars.com reports today that BP has released 500,000 pounds of emissions into the air in the Gulf.

They write: “BP’s Texas City refinery, more than 400 pounds a day of benzene — 40 times the state reportable levels — was released during a 40-day period while a subunit of the refinery’s ultracracker unit was offline, according to a company filing with the state’s environmental agency Friday.

In all, BP officials said more than 500,000 pounds of pollutants and nonpollutants were released while the company increased flaring as they tried to repair a compressor on the faulty unit.

Refinery spokesman Michael Marr said in its follow up reporting with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, that BP estimated 36,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 17,000 pounds of benzene were released in the 40 days. State law requires 10 pounds or more of benzene and 200 pounds or more of nitrogen oxide during a 24-hour period must be reported through the commission’s air emissions database.”

Benzene and Human Health

According to wikipedia, Benzene is a clear, colorless and highly-flammable aromatic liquid that evaporates quickly into the air, and can dissolve in water. It is formed from both natural processes and human activities; natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires.

Benzene is present in crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke. It is industrially used as a solvent in paints and other chemicals and products such as dyes, detergents, nylon, plastics, drugs and pesticides. Benzene is widely used in the United States; it ranks in the top twenty chemicals for production volume and makes up about one percent of every gallon of gasoline.

Here are some Questions and Answers about benzene:

What are the main health hazards associated with breathing in methane?

According to the Canadian Centre for Health and Occupational Safety web site, “methane is not toxic below the lower explosive limit of 5% (50000 ppm). However, when methane is present at high concentrations, it acts as an asphyxiant. Asphyxiants displace oxygen in the air and can cause symptoms of oxygen deprivation (asphyxiation).

The available oxygen should be a minimum of 18% – or harmful effects will result. Methane displaces oxygen to 18% in air when present at 14% (140000 ppm). It is not expected to cause unconsciousness (narcosis) due to central nervous system depression until it reaches much higher concentrations (30% or 300000 ppm) – well above the lower explosive limit and asphyxiating concentrations.

The effects of oxygen deficiency are:

- 12-16% oxygen in the air = breathing and pulse rate are increased, with slight muscular in- coordination;

- 10-14% oxygen in the air = emotional upsets, abnormal fatigue from exertion, disturbed respiration;

- 6-10% oxygen in the air = nausea and vomiting, inability to move freely, collapse, possible lack of consciousness;

- Less than 6% oxygen in the air = convulsive movements, gasping, possible respiratory collapse and death.

Since exercise increases the body’s need for oxygen, symptoms will occur more quickly during exertion in an oxygen-deficient environment. Survivors of oxygen deprivation may show damage to some or all organs including the central nervous system and the brain. These effects may or may not be reversible with time, depending on the degree and duration of the low oxygen and the amount of tissue injury.

The asphyxiant effects of methane may enhance cardiac (problems).”

There has been no mention of Corexit since it was reported that the EPA gave them a deadline to find another dispersant. It would appear that is because BP has given the EPA the finger as well. It is now reported there are over 1.1 million gallons of Corexit in the Gulf, and I am sure a percentage of that has already been evaporated into the atmosphere to come down as benzene rain sometime in the future. And we know why they are continuing to use this: because Corexit makes the oil drop down to make it look like the damage is less, thereby saving them money. This is serious to the ecosystems and environment of this area that will affect us all. BP has given us all the finger and here the government sits letting them get away with ecocide!