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1. If the oil reached Lee County, what
can be done to protect my health?
Here are some tips for avoiding negative health impacts from oiled
shores:
·
Avoid entering areas
where oil can be seen or smelled (no wading, swimming or entering the
water).
·
Avoid direct skin
contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.
·
Avoid contact with
dead/dying fish or other aquatic life.
·
Do not swim or ski in
areas affected by the oil, & if traveling through the area by boat, take
precautions when hoisting the boat anchor.
·
If oil makes contact
with skin, wash it off with liquid dishwashing detergent & water.
·
Do not fish in oil
spill-affected waters.
·
Do not harvest or eat
dead fish, fish with oily residue, or fish that have a petroleum odor.
· Avoid
boating through oil slicks or sheens.
· Prevent
pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.
· Those
near Florida's Gulf Coast may detect an odor because of the oil. Some
people are more sensitive to these odors and may experience nasal
irritation & feelings of nausea. In combination with seasonal allergies
(such as sensitivity to pollen, or pre-existing respiratory conditions
such as asthma,) some people may experience more severe symptoms.
· Individuals
experiencing respiratory symptoms that are aggravated by the odors from
the oil spill should consider:
- Staying
indoors in air-conditioning and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity.
-
If symptoms do not
improve, contact a primary care physician or other health care provider
for medical advice.
- Individuals
with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma or other
respiratory illness) should contact a healthcare professional if feeling
symptomatic.
2.
What does oil look like when it comes on shore?
Oil on the shoreline is likely in the form of
emulsified oil. It will be brown, red, or orange in color. See this
PDF,
Oil on the Beach - What it is for photos & descriptions.
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3. Who
do I contact if I'm worried about health issues related to the Gulf
spill?
At this time, there are no indications of any health risks to Floridians
due to the oil spill. The FDOH and the FDEP are closely monitoring
health and environmental impacts and will issue an advisory if
conditions become unsafe. For more information, please see the DOH's
question & answer document that is posted to the DEP website at
www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/files/faq_doh_051010.pdf.
Poison centers in the gulf region are available to take any and all
health-related calls related to the oil spill. Please call Poison
Control at 1-800-222-1222.
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4.
I am
concerned about the burning of the oil and how it will affect the air
quality near my home. How do I find out information on the air quality
in Florida?
The Florida
DEP continuously monitors the air for ozone and particulate matter.
These two parameters are used to calculate the air quality index (a
national health-based standard set by the US EPA (United States
Environmental Protection Agency)) of an area. Visit
http://www.airnow.gov. Sign up for ENVIROFLASH from the EPA to
receive daily updates on air quality in the Gulf region. In addition,
find a link to Gulf of Mexico Air Quality Information under
ANNOUNCEMENTS. The five categories of the Index run from "Good" to "Very
Unhealthy". Learn more about what the categories mean by visiting:
http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi . There is a
lag between the times of the data collection to the analysis of the data
for use in any actual air quality advisories.The public should be aware
that conditions can change rapidly and they should use general
precautions to reduce exposure. In the Destin/Fort Walton Beach the air
quality index normally ranges between good and moderate. The State of
Florida has authorized the US Coast Guard to conduct burns of oil
product within Florida waters. The Okaloosa County Health Department
will be notified in advance of a burn and will release information about
the dates and timing of the burns to the public through all normal media
outlets.
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5.
I am concerned
about the oil-like odors I am noticing near my home. What is this & is
it dangerous?
DEP & DOH
county health departments are receiving complaints about burnt oil-like
odors. At this time, the specific identity & cause of these odors is
unknown. Some of these odors may be identified by the volatile organic
compound (VOC) monitoring being conducted by DEP. DOH stands ready to
analyze results of these tests for potential health impacts. DOH is also
coordinating with DEP to review air monitoring data for particulate
matter in the air. While results are currently normal, abnormal levels
of particulate matter can aggravate existing respiratory conditions such
as asthma and have been associated with increased rates of
hospitalization and emergency room visits for persons with existing
heart and lung diseases. Should a
health concern arise, CDC will work quickly with other federal and state
agencies to make sure the public is informed.
The Florida DEP has
asked that individuals with an air quality question or concern should
contact the EPA Region 4 National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
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6.
Are
the fish in the Gulf waters safe to eat?
There are no alerts or advisories at this time regarding seafood caught
off the coast of Florida in state waters. On April 30, 2010, the state
of Louisiana closed the molluscan shellfish beds in growing areas 2, 3,
4, 5, 6 and 7 to harvest as a precautionary measure. Product harvested
before this ban went into effect should be safe from oil contamination.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service will continue to
monitor the situation and notify the public if any problem is detected
with seafood from this area of the country. Updates and status reports
posted to the DEP website at
www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon will post up-to-date info about
this.
>>
Want to know about the bioaccumulation of oil chemicals in seafood?
Bioaccumulation of Oil Chemicals in Seafood (PDF)
>> Evaluating the risk to people of oil contaminants in seafood?
Seafood Oil Contamination (PDF)
>> Other resources:
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7. Who
is responsible for ensuring seafood safety?
Federal & state agencies are
working together to ensure seafood safety. If managers determine that
seafood may be affected, the next step is to assess whether seafood is
tainted or contaminated to levels that could pose a risk to human health
through consumption. A combination of sensory analysis (of tissue) and
chemical analysis (of water, sediment, & tissue) is conducted to
determine if seafood is safe following an oil spill. The results will
be made public as soon as possible.
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8. How
are fish advisories developed?
The FDOH, the FDEP, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC), & the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services operate jointly to determine if environmental chemicals are
present in fish from Florida waters. DOH determines the potential for
adverse human health effects from consuming the fish and issues fish
consumption advisories when needed. Please check with DOH periodically,
as they will provide updates at
www.myfloridaeh.com/medicine/fishconsumptionadvisories. The
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides input on issues
related to commercially available seafood.
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9. Who
is sampling and monitoring the water?
Federal & state agencies are tracking the prevalence of potentially
harmful chemicals in the water as a result of this spill to determine
the level of risk posed to fish & wildlife. While these chemicals can
impact ecosystems, drinking water supplies are not expected to be
affected. Monitoring information helps estimate the amount of these
compounds that may reach ecological systems. When combined with
available information on the toxicity of these compounds, scientists can
estimate the likely magnitude of effects on fish, wildlife, and human
health.
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10. My water tastes
or smells different. What should I do?
If you have any concerns about your water, you should contact your water
supplier. The oil spill is not expected to affect drinking water. If
your water supply does not meet EPA or state standards, your water
supplier must notify you by newspaper, mail, radio, TV or
hand-delivery. If you have a private well, you may wish to have your
well tested. There are many private contractors who do this type of
testing. The DOH has a web page that may assist you further:
www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/water/privatewells.
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