Is gulf seafood really safe?
A new report released this week by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) warns that the “oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico poses… indirect threats to seafood safety.” State and federal officials, however, say they are aggressively testing seafood from the Gulf Coast in order to protect the public from any potential health risks from the oil that gushed continuously into the water for nearly three months. With these conflicting messages, how difficult will it be for the Gulf’s seafood industry to get back on its feet?
Dr. James H. Diaz, a professor of public health and preventive medicine at Louisiana State University, recently attended a consortium of Gulf Coast universities, which met to discuss the effects of the oil spill. He joins us to weigh in on the conflicting messages about the safety of the Gulf seafood.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!