Gulf Oil Spill Public Health Issues and Resources

[Info last updated: April 20, 2012]

Results of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) Survey of the Human Health Impacts Due to the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster

Be sure to refer to local health information from each specific state.

State

• Louisiana Dept. of Health Oil Spill Information
• Alabama Dept. of Public Health
• Mississippi Dept. of Public Health
• Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection

Federal

• Center for Disease Control: A hub of information related to the health impact for specific groups (like children and pregnant women), how to protect your health, food, air, water information, and FAQs.
• Restore the Gulf: Official site of the US Government
  • Extensive list of Fact Sheets
  • Federal Science Report Analyzes Environmental Risks and Benefits of Additional Clean Up for Sensitive Beaches in the Gulf (released 2/11/11)

• Seafood Safety and Testing from the FDA
  • Protocol for Interpretation and Use of Sensory Testing and Analytical Chemistry Results for Re-opening Oil impacted Areas Closed to Seafood Harvesting (FDA)
• Health and Human Services Response to the Oil Spill
• Crude Oil Spills and Health from NIH
  • Multi-language Resources

Articles, Fact Sheets and Flyers

• Living on Earth - Toxic Tide: Discovering the Health Effects of the Deepwater Disaster (2/11/11)
• Louisiana Fact Sheets in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese
  • What you should and should not do in areas affected by the oil spill (from the Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals)

• Health advisory flyer for oil and tarballs on the beach
• Understanding Tarballs (pdf) NOAA

Worker Safety

• NIEHS Oil Spill Emergency Response and Clean-up Many resources related to worker safety
• Oil Spills - Keeping Workers Safe (OSHA)

Resources for Healthcare Providers

• CDC Information for Health Professionals
• HHS.Gov Resources for Health Professionals

• American Public Health Association (APHA) Oil Spill Resources

• Public Information on the Gulf Spill from The American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT), and the Pediatric Environmental Health pecialty Units (PEHSU)
• National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemiclals - PAHs (CDC)

Advocacy Groups

• Advocates for Environmental and Human Rights
• Gulf Future Campaign
  • Map of Participating Organizations
• Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN)
• Louisiana Bucket Brigade

On This Page

• Relevant State and Federal Health Departments
• Fact Sheets for the Public
• Worker Safety
• Resources for Healthcare Providers
• Advocacy Groups

• Dispersants and Your Health
• Precautions for Children
• What Pregnant Women Should Know
• Seafood Safety
• Hurricanes and the Oil Spill (PDF)