Louisiana Environmental Action Network

The Collaborative on Health and the Environment Partnership Event, May 2, 2013

by: Wilma Subra

Presentation by: Wilma Subra, Technical Advisor to LEAN

Wilma Subra
Subra Company/Louisiana Environmental Action Network

Doctor Who Treated Those Made Sick by BP’s Oil Disaster Worries Medical Settlement is Not Fair, Will Exclude Those with Serious Symptoms

The clear association between gas development and public health impacts revealed by this research demands that states stop ignoring the problem and start developing the standards necessary to protect the public

Two years following the Gulf Oil Spill, Dr. Robichaux speaks about the health impacts he's seen and his success in treating them.

Health Concerns in BP's Own Manual Raise Questions

Anonymous Whistleblower Provides Document; Groups Send Letter as Settlement Looms

Hope at last!

Health Concerns have gone unaddressed for too long.
Detoxification program providing first sign of real solutions.
The Gulf Coast Detoxification Project is open and results are looking GREAT!

Making It Right? A clean-up worker & Gulf tourist discuss the health problems that they are experiencing following their interactions with the BP Gulf Oil Disaster.

In the wake of the BP Oil Disaster many Gulf Coast residents continue to face health challenges. Read more to watch the video.

Human Health Impacts Associated with Chemicals and Pathways of Exposure from the Development of Shale Gas PlaysBy: Wilma Subra Subra Company/Earthworks Board Member
January 9, 2012

To view the presentation information  please read more.

The Relationship between the environment and the economy is positive, that is, improving the environment also improves the economy. States with good environments have better economies than those with polluted environments. For example, between 1988 and 1992 the pollution levels in Louisiana were cut in half because industry spent money to reduce its pollution and, at the same time, 25,000 jobs were created in the manufacturing sector alone. The industry spending was for equipment, so local business did better, and workers were hired to operate the equipment.People and business want to locate in clean environments and not in polluted areas. Once here people start new businesses and expand existing ones. By investing in protecting the environment we are investing in the economy and ultimately in the people of Louisiana

-Paul Templet
Former Secretary of LDEQ

It has been over fourteen months since the Deepwater Horizon sank releasing BP's oil into the Gulf of Mexico and coastal residents who feel that their health was impacted by the BP oil disaster are still struggling to find answers and relief.

Our partners at the Government Accountability Project will be in Louisiana and other Gulf coast states from August 10th - 16th to take statements from oil spill clean-up personnel (former or current, public or private-sector), and residents with health or safety concerns believed to be related to the BP Oil Spill.

We are encouraging all of our members with first hand information about the spill, conduct of BP, it's sub-contractors or otherwise to come forward at this time with health and safety related matters.

This is your opportunity to be part of the official record.

If you have any questions about this investigation. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 202.457.0034, x. 132 (o), 240.888.2898 (c)

Jamie Griffin a hotel worker talks about the numerous health problems that have arisen directly during the time of exposure to BP Oil.

As we all know, people along the Gulf Coast are still suffering effects from the events of the oil spill of 2010. For over a year now, LEAN, along with many others, have been working to bring attention to this problem and ultimately find solutions. Perhaps the greatest problem we face in trying to resolve the health concerns of those effected is finding medical professionals willing and capable of diagnosing and affectively treating these conditions. Dr. Mike Robicheaux has been addressing this health crisis almost single handedly since last year.

A diverse coalition of 154 groups, including Waterkeeper Alliance, United Houma Nation, Association of Family Fishermen and 69 different Waterkeepers organizations, representing hundreds of thousands of community members around the country, Mexico and China, sent a letter to EPA Administrator Jackson and HHS Secretary Sebelius demanding action on the growing public health crisis on the Gulf Coast.

Dr. Susan Shaw, Director of the Marine Environmental Research Institute, discusses her ongoing efforts to study the effects of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This interview was conducted at Harmony for Health's "Unity for the Gulf" fundraiser at New Orleans House of Blues on April 20, 2011, the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion.

Testimonial of Captain Darla Rooks

Louisiana charter boat captain, Louis Bayhi, discusses the severe health problems he's experienced after serving on clean up crews in the wake of the BP oil spill.

The BP Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico offshore of Louisiana, on April 20, 2010, resulted in 172 million gallons of Louisiana sweet crude oil being released into the environment of the Gulf of Mexico.In addition 1.84 million gallons of Corexit 9500 and 9527 were applied to the BP crude oil.The crude oil and dispersants contaminated the environment of the Gulf of Mexico and the coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the panhandle of Florida and resulted in severe human health impacts throughout the contaminated area.One year after the Deepwater Horizon explosion, the crude oil continues to be present in the environment, continues to migrate on shore along the northern Gulf of Mexico and continues to serve as an ongoing source of contamination and exposure to very sick community members living and working in the coastal areas of the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Last week at the Baton Rouge Press Club Dr. Michael Robicheaux spoke in-depth about the large number of sick people that he has been treating since the BP oil disaster occurred. The sick include workers who worked on the response to the disaster as well as divers, fishermen and coastal residents.

A team of three scientific divers found high levels of ethyl benzene and xylene in their blood after completing 15-20, -dives of approximately 30 minutes, while wearing full wet suits. The diving was done over the summer and early fall of 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico Main Pass, Mississippi Canyon and Grand Isle areas. EcoRigs is a small, self-funded Non-profit Corporation that studies the marine life on offshore platforms. Initially, we were told it was safe to dive offshore but about the end of July, one of us started to show unusual symptoms and quit diving by mid-August. Then another member became sick in late September and we all stopped diving. Our last dive was October 12th 2010. Collectively, our symptoms included blood in our stool, bleeding from the nose and eyes, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps and dizziness and confusion. The symptoms did not appear all at once but were intermittent and were not compounded but occurred independently. They started in July and will continue, I fear, into the future. Corexit and ethyl benzene attack the hemoglobin in the red blood cells and causes ruptures in the blood cell lining.

Working with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network and several doctors along the Gulf Coast, Billups and Nix have been holding workshops and helping sick people get their blood tested and find medical assistance.

"We have sick people from Apalachicola, Florida, to Grand Isle, Louisiana, and it's not stopping and that's what's disturbing," Billups said. "The levels we are seeing are not dropping, and we're seeing new chemicals now. We gave some of our blood test results to [EPA head] Lisa Jackson. They know what is going on, and they are not doing anything about it."

"The saddest part is the children," Billups added. "We’re seeing young children with extremely high levels of chemicals. We're altering our DNA and our bodies forever, We're a bunch of guinea pigs."

Read entire article

Human Health and Ecological Effects of the BP Deepwater Horizon Crude Oil Disaster

Presentation By: 
Wilma Subra
Subra Company

Download PDF 1.04 Mb

A forum held on February 5th 2011 in New Orleans. Featuring guest speaker Wilma Subra - Chemist for LEAN.

Our never ending work on the health issues affecting people since the BP spill continues to gain the attention of the public and the media a like. The recent report released by our chemist Wilma Subra caught the attention of KLFY reporter Chuck Hubner.

Evaluation of the Results of Whole Blood Volatile Solvents Testing

Samples of blood were collected on December 16, 2010, from four males, age 3, 36, 42 and 43, and one female, age 38.  The individuals tested  were a diver who came in contact with the BP spill chemicals, individuals who visited the coastal communities and wetlands, documenting the impacts of the BP spill, and individuals exposed along the beaches.   The whole blood samples were analyzed for Volatile Solvents by Method 0762, Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, by Metametrix Clinical Laboratory in Duluth, Georgia

The Louisiana Environmental Action Network released the following evaluation on November 26th 2010

Evaluation of the Results of Whole Blood Volatile Solvents Testing 
By Wilma Subra and Marylee Orr
Louisiana Environmental Action Network - Baton Rouge, LA

A whole blood sample was collected from a 47 year old male on November 8, 2010.  The blood sample was analyzed for Volatile Solvents by Method 0762 , by Metametrix Clinical Laboratory in Pensacola, Florida.