.The MDM . Wonderlance.

Featured Interviews
Artistry
MICHAEL BLAKE
(HOLLYWOOD, USA)
TOM PIPER
(RSC, London, UK)
CHRISTOPHER GUEST
(UK)
ROBIN FOX
(UK)
Music
JAMIE LIDELL
(NEW YORK, USA)
TOBIAS WILNER
("Bichi", "Blue Foundation", "Ghost Society", Denmark)
LIN DI
("Cold Fairyland", China)
KILLAFLAW
(UK)
Scientech
DR ROBYN LUCAS
(National Centre for Epidemiology and
Population Health, ANU, AUSTRALIA)
DR SETH FORMAN
(Tampa, USA)
Socialogue
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR THOMAS BEAMISH (University of
California-Davis, USA)
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
GEORGE GONZALEZ
(University of Miami, USA)
Articles
OIL vs. PEOPLE
OIL VS. EARTH
THE SUN IS BURNING
HOLOGRAPHIC EVERYTHING
THE HOROSCOPE BATTLE
UFO
Specials
STONEHENGE
LEARNING HOLLYWOOD SECRETS
WORLD CUP
Reviews New Releases
film
SPLICE
(Featuring exclusive interview
with award-winning
special effects expert
JASON BOARD
(Canada - USA)
KARATE KID
Other Reviews
film
IRON MAN2
Recommendations
Books
SOLAR
PARALLEL WORLDS
AHAB'S WIFE
THE HOST
INSTANT SELF-HYPNOSIS

<< BACK

SCIENTECH

OIL vs. EARTH
Featuring exclusive interview with:
Dr. Seth Forman
(Leading Tampa Dermatologist and Specialist in Skin Disorders)

Last April we witnessed another environmental disaster of great proportions, a disaster that is as increasingly vast, as flammable is the oil.

Over 850.000 gallons of dispersant has been sent into the oil spill so far. According to the E.PA.(Environmental Protection Agency) this constitutes a usage of unprecedented volumes, and what is worse, it has been applied underwater, at the source of the leak, something that has not been tried and tested before.

The MSDS of Corexit® (the brand of dispersant used) implies that long term exposure to high concentrations of this chemical substance can cause CNS (central nervous system) toxicity, nausea, vomiting, kidney and liver disease, respiratory problems and severe dermatitis.

Federal US regulators like E.P.A. gave BP 72 hours to use less toxic dispersants. Exxon’s own data shows 6,722 cases of upper respiratory infections among the workers participating in their oil spill clean-up, for which Corexit® was also used.

According to E.P.A.’s data, Corexit® ranks well above in toxicity and well below in effectiveness in handling southern Lousiana’s crude, among other competitors. Therefore the enthusiasm of BP in using Corexit® may be explained by its ties to the company that manufactures it, Nalco, which in its current leadership counts with executives from BP and Exxon.

MSDS:
The propanol component 1-methylethoxy:
Toxicity Risk Codes: R20: Harmful by inhalation - R21: Harmful in contact with skin - R36: Irritating to eyes
MSDS:
Distillates(petroleum), hydrotreated light
Toxicity Risk Codes: R65: Harmful; may cause lung damage if swallowed.

We now know that not only wildlife is being suffocated to death by both the oil and its dispersant but also the workers, many of them fishermen trying to save a modicum of their way of life, can be at risk of being intoxicated.

An ecological disaster that will affect not only the area of the Gulf of Mexico but also its surroundings, and in fact, the global ecosystem, as it is all interconnected, is in fact the result of many very ill-thought decisions and double agendas.

And whilst fish, dolphins, whales, manatees and sea turtles suffocate and die, coastal regions and salt marshes are being destroyed, the air quality is being diminished and the Gulf of Mexico fishing industry is decimated, here comes another question:

Will the adopted temporary solution be more catastrophic if possible than the accident in itself?

In June 1st it was reported that more of a dozen workers cleaning oil spill were hospitalized and many others complained of having headaches, nausea, dizziness and a series of other problems. Much of this has been blamed on the chemical dispersant being used.

Today we were able to interview one of the medical professionals that first alerted on the correlation of the dispersant with these incidents.

Dr. Forman, thank you very much for taking the time to respond to our questions, we really appreciate it.

1. MDM_ You were one of the first medical professionals that alerted the population on the hazardous side effects of some of the chemical ingredients of Corexit® (dispersant used by BP, in unprecedented high volumes, in the Gulf’s oil spill) as patients were coming into your clinic showing types of rashes that you could not identify. Has it been established a direct correlation between these and the prolongued exposure to Corexit®?

1. DR FORMAN -- At this time I have not had a confirmed contact or irritant dermatitis due to direct exposure to Corexit®. My impression is that the chronic medical issues will develop in the next few months to years. The route of exposure will me mainly twofold. 1) I believe they will manifest from direct contact by the clean-up crews, fishermen, and beachgoers. 2) The Corexit® is also entering our food chain. We will ingest these chemicals internally over the next few months to years.

^
GO TO TOP

(Continue below)

2. MDM_ Exxon, which used this same dispersant, shows in its own data a staggering 6,722 cases of upper respiratory infections among the workers participating in their oil spill clean-up.
You also pointed out that the workers participating in the clean-up of the Gulf’s recent oil spill, who needed to be hospitalized, were presenting symptoms that the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) of some of these components had listed. How would you say that over 850.000 gallons of this dispersant , that has been sent into the oil spill, will affect not only the workers but the whole of the Gulf’ ecosystem?

2. DR FORMAN -- I absolutely agree with your supposition. The Corexit will most certainly affect the entire ecosystem by direct contact toxicity and by entering the food chain. The volume of Corexit and oil entering the ecosystem is unprecedented, as will be the chronic medical issues.

3. MDM_ Based on your extensive research and studies in dermatopathology, and taking into account the toxicity of high volumes of chemicals...Which severe skin disorders do you think that the population in risk of contact with these chemicals could develop?

3. DR FORMAN -- My impression is that these workers with experience either contact irritant dermatitis and contact allergic dermatitis. I have significant experience as an expert witness in Workers' Compensation cases. I am certain there will be an increase in Workers' Compensation claims from these clean-up workers.

4. MDM_ Could you describe the unidentified type of rashes, that the patients that you have seen in your clinic, have been showing? Which of your clinical centers, should people developing a similar rash to the ones that you describe go to in order to be attended?

4. DR FORMAN -- Fortunately, there have been no documented cases of "Corexit® Dermatitis" in the Bay area, as of yet. However, we are prepared to assess any patient that may have had exposure to these chemicals. Tourism has been suffering. The population that may be exposed, the beachgoers, are staying away and being proactive.

5. MDM_ After evaluating the risk in the inhalation of high quantities of these chemicals, risk that can be established by the data obtained from Exxon, Which basic safety measures would you recommend to the population resident in the affected areas?

5. DR FORMAN -- We encourage anyone with difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness or severe dermatitis to seek medical attention immediately. We hope that anyone participating in the clean-up to wear protective clothing, goggles and masks.

Dr. Seth Forman Dermatology:
www.formanderm.com

^
GO TO TOP

<< BACK

...

Scientech