Trisha Springstead on the continuing health effects of the BP Gulf oil disaster Series Part 3 of 3
Channel: arclight2011
Date: 26/11/2015

“6 died and more are dying in just the communty of Bayou Labatre” Trisha told us.

943373_10200224384674274_1527561041_nIn this fourth part of our Gulf disaster expose we talk to Trisha Springstead, who is a health professional who has been gathering health data concerning the BP Gulf Oil disaster in 2010. She has been interviewed by Dahr Jamail when he was investigating the health and environmental problems that were being reported.

In the early days of the disaster Trisha was shocked because of reports she was recieving from communities around the coast. The Dahr Jamail article then caused peoples interest to come to Trisha with their stories and Trisha was able to get data that could be used for future reference (her FB community has some 27,000 people including victims). Her main concern was for the victims though and she holds talks to make people aware of toxicity poisoning and its symtoms so local communities can be enabled in dealing with this problem. As well as giving free legal and health advice.

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Trisha is involved in a new Documentary on the after effects of the BP Gulf oil disaster that is underway  but is seeking crowd sourced funding, to finish it. The Creator of this documentry is Mark manning who also did the “Road to Fallujah”
Link to podcast here;
Or download link here;

Podcast file here

 

The evidence that was ignored

Firstly, we should see what evidence has been brought forward to prove that there was a problem with toxicity within these communities. We should mention a report on Chemical Sensitivity that is peer reviewed that was sent to Washington DC to prove a range of symptoms caused by the disaster.

The peer reviewed report was developed by information from activists and Trisha helped with data from her findings. Trisha mentions in the interview that the final report submitted by Jena Soloman did not give the full picture of harm but did concede that harm existed. The link to the report is here;

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=186531

Symptom variety found in the gulf region

Secondly, we should look at some of the symptoms found by Trisha and her colleagues.

Flesh eating Bacteria, Sore throat, low stamina, visual problems (eyes fogging over), neurological problems such as twitching and drooping of the mouth, Memory issues (brain fog), skin rashes, hair loss, thyroid problems, blood born cancers, Kidney and liver failure, soft tissue cancers, respiratory disorders, Hodkins Lymphoma (link to study that makes the connection between Benzene and HL) and mental health disorders (PTSD etc). Trisha also said that;

“Brown drainage coming out of the ears”

In fact Trisha herself got ill getting sand samples from contaminated beeches and working in contaminated areas. She was followed by the police on one occasion, until she drove passed the state line. We discussed some of this harrasment with Charles Williams Digges and Maureen Duphinee in previous podcasts. Concerning Trishas illness, she said that one symptom, her skin rashes were awful;

 

    “it itched so bad, you wanted to take the skin off”

She said.

(Picture source)

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Many Gulf residents claimed that they;

 

    “never got sick before the Gulf oil disaster”

Said Trisha

 

Other evidence concerning health effects
Williams Digges from Cancer victim, Jack Hill (who has since passed away), informs us of the tragic situation people are facing without support from the agencies that should be there to protect and support them. (Jack Hill picture thanks to  Bellona)

No treatment for toxicity

As well as the chemical toxicity report being ignored we find that studies and health programmes are not being instituted or are not being run efficiently. This leaves Trisha wondering if the funding and the response strategy to the oil disaster might be biased towards the interests of the BP corporation and not so much in the interests of the victims of the disaster. We discuss this issue on the podcast. Below we look at the evidence that has formed Trishas views on this situation.

Health studies

Trisha has recieved information that points to serious issues with the health response including bias against looking for toxicity in patients and instead they are sent to a Nose Ear and Throat specialist at best instead of blood work being done for toxcicity.

Another case study looks at a lady who went to the doctors and a test was done and Toulene was found. The police were called in and the mother was charged with allowing the children to poison themselves!

    “We need to write up these peoples stories”
see full article at www.europeannewsweekly.wordpress.com