BP oil spill 'could have long-term health effects'

The BP oil spill could have serious long-term health effects as the air quality in the region has been affected, according to one expert.

Speaking to Reuters, Dr Gina Solomon, an environmental medicine professor at the University of California, believes that the explosion of the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico in April could have greater consequences than just being an "ecological disaster".

She told the news agency that contact with oil and chemicals affects the health of the lungs, kidneys and liver and can trigger psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress disorder.

Dr Solomon said people in the area could see their health suffer as the air quality has dropped since the explosion - a problem which she said was the "biggest concern early on".

She added that contact with the oil for clean-up workers is another major worry, as well as contamination of seafood.

On Monday (August 16th 2010), BP confirmed that it will pledge $52 million (£33.5 million) to US health organisations to provide care and support for individuals affected by the spill.

Posted by Lauren Steadman