as of March 24, 2005

I wonder what happened to the young men used in the 'chemical cleanup experiment?'

One of the general workers must have been affected by the chemical, too, as he asked, "Will there be a study?" I hope so, I really do.

Today, in going about my regular business, I met a man who said he was General Foreman over several beach crews and landing craft in 1989

Said he had asthma then so he was not allowed to work on the bioremediation experiment. Said that it came on late in the season and that Exxon c/o VECO was only looking for all healthy YOUNG men. No women because it could cause reproductive harm ... (or because they weren't strong enough someone mentioned before) ... or because it was an experiment & they only wanted young, healthy MALE subjects?

This is a sad thought. What happened to these YOUNG men?
The chemical that was considered harmful was known to target the testes. Doesn't their reproductive health matter?

Last week I spoke to one of those young men who was a bioremediation worker. He thinks he just has blood anemia. Doctors haven't found out what's the matter or why. He said that it didn't make sense to him that the company took their blood end of program.

At any rate, the company knows what happened to them.

The young men were not told what might go wrong. They seem totally unaware of the health issues they may be facing.

And, although Exxon thought they were protecting their employees by never letting them come onto the 'bioremediation' workers' boats ... they could still be affected. The wind could carry the chemical in their direction. Worst exposure is into the eye membranes. So, safer than the workers, but not for sure safe.

More of what went on