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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 06:33 AM Jun 2014

michigan: no long term health risk from oil spill

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MICHIGAN_OIL_SPILL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-06-04-20-46-28

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan's health agency said Wednesday there's no long-term health risk from swimming and fishing in the Kalamazoo River, the site of one of the costliest onshore oil spills in U.S. history.

The state Department of Community Health said it finalized its public health assessment of the July 2010 incident. A pipeline operated by Enbridge Inc. ruptured and spewed hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River in Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties.

The state said there's no long-term harm to people's health from coming into contact with chemicals in the river's surface water during wading, swimming or canoeing. But contact with oil sheen in the river may cause temporary effects such as skin irritation.

The state also said oil-related chemicals levels in fish are very low.

The 78-page assessment, dated Monday and announced Wednesday, recommended that people avoid contact with oil sheen if possible. If they do contact the sheen, they should wash their skin with soap and water.
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michigan: no long term health risk from oil spill (Original Post) xchrom Jun 2014 OP
GOP-controls the Michigan government Demeter Jun 2014 #1
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