Surgeon General: Did You Help Clean Up the Oil Spill? If So, We Need You

Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin is encouraging workers and volunteers who assisted with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup operations to come forward and participate in a long-term study examining potential health effects of the spill.

Laura Walter

May 25, 2012

2 min read

"When oil threatened our Gulf Coast, thousands of workers and volunteers cleaned up the oil spill and supported the effort. Now there are questions about the oil spill and health," Benjamin said in a public service announcement (PSA).

"Did you help clean up the oil spill? If so, we need you," Benjamin stressed. "I'm asking anyone who helped clean up the oil spill to sign up for the GuLF STUDY, the largest study ever conducted on the possible health effects of oil spills."

Benjamin appeared in both TV and radio PSAs to share information about the national GuLF STUDY (Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study), which is being conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study is expected to last up to 10 years and will examine whether the oil spill and the resulting cleanup contributing to physical or mental health issues.

Over time, the GuLF STUDY will generate important data that may help inform policy decisions on health care and health services in the region. Its findings also may influence responses to future oil spills and similar disasters.

Visit http://www.nihgulfstudy.org/links/PSAs.html to access all PSAs.

People interested in participating in the study can call the toll-free number, 1-855-NIH-GULF (1-855-644-4853), or visit http://www.nihgulfstudy.org.

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.