Health Complaints in Louisiana from Oil Spill Pollutants Now at 109

There have been 109 reports of health complaints believed to be related to exposure to pollutants from the BP oil spill, according to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. That number is up from 71 complaints reported as of June 10.

Seventy-four reports came from among workers and 35 from among the general population. Most workers reported having had symptoms that cleared up quickly resulting from exposures attributed to a variety of chemicals. Nine had short hospitalizations.

The general population complaints were related to odors, and symptoms were considered mostly mild. Three attributed their hospitalization to exposures and investigations into the claims are pending.

The health agency is monitoring emergency department visits in seven hospitals in regions 1, 3 and 9 to determine if there are increases in upper respiratory illnesses (URI) and asthma increasing in the region.

Source: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals