Swimming in Toxic Filth? Naw...

From American Progress Action Fund:

KATRINA -- FLOODED SUPERFUND SITES POSE LONG-TERM HEALTH RISK: "Overlooked in many news reports about the unfolding storm disaster in the southern United States, especially in the City of New Orleans, in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, is a potentially dramatic pollution issue related to a toxic landfill that sits under the flood waters right in the city's downtown." The Agriculture Street Landfill is one of three Superfund toxic waste sites in the Gulf Coast region that is posing a significant long-term health threat. "The flooded Superfund sites in Louisiana and Mississippi contain a range of contaminants that include heavy metals linked to increased cancer risk and developmental problems and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are carcinogens." So far, tests conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency have found "raw sewage, traces of weed killers and toxic lead taint the floodwaters inundating New Orleans."

and:

KATRINA -- EPA COVERING UP THE PUBLIC HEALTH DANGER OF NEW ORLEANS' TOXIC WATERS: The Independent reports that an EPA official believes "toxic chemicals in the New Orleans flood waters will make the city unsafe for full human habitation for a decade." Worse yet, the Bush administration is covering up the danger, according to Hugh Kaufman, an expert on toxic waste who has been at the EPA since its inception 35 years ago. Kaufman believes the way the polluted water was being pumped out of the city was increasing the danger to public health, and the administration is failing to report the damage by taking too few water samples and refusing to disclose the results of those it has analyzed.