While there are sporadic reports of people along the Gulf Coast suffering health problems related to the polluted air from BP's massive oil spill, the news just gets out in dribs and drabs from local news briefs showing 106 people in one city treated for "oil-related conditions."
While residents struggle to obtain solid information on which to base a decision on whether to stay or leave the coast, local health departments and government officials tend to downplay the threats in the interest of promoting tourism.
What is needed is a comprehensive, journalistic investigation across the Gulf from Texas to Florida compiling the most complete information on air and water quality and health issues, played alongside some key stories from people in the region struggling to deal with the effects on a daily basis.
Image by Kevin Baird
