just stimulating conversation
Gulf Oil
This event took place on Thursday, April 14, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in room 1755 SPH I On April 20 2010 the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig experienced catastrophic failure, leading to the largest oil spill in marine history. Twelve months on, how is the spill affecting the health of workers and local residents, and what are the lessons that can be learned for the future?
Panelists
Margaret Kitt, Deputy Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
"Repeatedly we witness the critical role response workers play in disasters. How and why was the approach to protecting these workers during the Deepwater Horizon Response different and what does it pose for the future?"
Richard Kwok, Lead Associate Investigator, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) GuLF STUDY.
"The GuLF STUDY was developed to learn about possible health effects of the recent Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico… The findings from the study may influence long-term public health responses in Gulf communities or responses to other oil spills in the future."
Al Franzblau, Associate Dean for Research, University of Michigan School of Public Health
"The scientific literature on possible adverse human health effects from oils spills is limited — more research is needed on physical and psychological effects of oil spill incidents, and also research to better understand community (mis)perceptions related to oil spills."
David Uhlmann, Director, Environmental Law and Policy Program, University of Michigan
"The Gulf oil spill will result in the largest criminal fines ever imposed for any form of corporate crime in the United States. But will a criminal prosecution that is based on corporate negligence result in meaningful changes in corporate behavior — and will the case enhance environmental protection and worker safety?"
Join the Conversation
Comments on the event or questions for the panelists? Please add them below. Comments and questions will be open from one week before the event to one week after it has taken place. During the event, comments and questions can be posted live using Twitter — use the hashtag #umrscup
Watch the webcast
The panelists all seem to be interested in talking about the effect of the gulf oil spill on affected workers and affected communities. I would also be interested in hearing their perspectives on how the spill and its coverage has affected those who were NOT directly affected (e.g., those of us in Michigan). What lessons do you think the public learned from the spill and its consequence? Are these lessons useful or counterproductive as we contemplate the public's role in managing offshore drilling and other risky activities with similar characteristics?
Please feel free to post comments on the health impacts of the gulf oil spill, ask questions of the panelists, or respond to other comments!
A new review of the health impacts of the Gulf oil spill has just been published in the New England Journal of Medicine: accessible here.