The Gulf of Mexico oil disaster has caused the biggest chemical poisoning crisis in US history, experts say.
Toxic chemicals ‘in the air’
Two-year-old Gaven Tillman of Pass Christian, Mississippi, has been diagnosed with severe upper respiratory, sinus, and viral infections. His temperature has reached more than 39 degrees and he has been sick since last September.
“He has been seen by nine different doctors and had twenty-four doctor ER visits,” Shirley Tillman, his grandmother and former BP oil cleanup worker told Al Jazeera, “Some of his diagnoses include severe inflammation of his upper sinuses, upper respiratory infections, ear infections, sore throats, headaches, fever, vomiting diarrhea.”
Both Shirley and her husband Don’s blood tested positive for chemicals from BP’s crude oil, but now Gaven’s blood has tested positive as well.
“We expected to find BP’s toxins in our bodies after working in the VOO [Vessels of Opportunity] program,” she added, “But we did not expect our two-year-old grandson to test positive for having them too, with levels higher than ours. He has not been to the beach and has not eaten any seafood. Therefore, it is in the air.”
Shirley Tillman, along with her son and husband, all tested positive for having BP’s toxins in their blood [Erika Blumenfeld/Al Jazeera]
Dr Riki Ott, a toxicologist, marine biologist, and Exxon Valdez survivor, told Al Jazeera that: “The dispersants used in BP’s draconian experiment contain solvents such as petroleum distillates and 2-butoxyethanol. Solvents dissolve oil, grease, and rubber”, she continued, “It should be no surprise that solvents are also notoriously toxic to people, something the medical community has long known”.
via BP anniversary: Toxicity, suffering and death – Features – Al Jazeera English.
