Question

Katrina's Troubled Waters: The Rescue Worker’s Dilemma by Lynn M. Diener, Biology Department, Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, WI Part I – Concerns As a rescue worker in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, Patty was expected to go from house to house looking for stranded food survivors. She was part of a boat rescue team and spent much of her time on the boat, but also had to wade through the water from time to time to assist people who had trouble walking or were afraid of crossing through the water on their own to get to the boat. Patty had some concerns about being a rescue worker and was considering quitting her job. Questions 1. If you were Patty, what concerns would you have about being a rescue worker? 2. Are any of your concerns health-related? Order your health-related concerns from highest concern to lowest. 3. How many of these concerns exist only in the food conditions present in New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina? “Katrina’s Troubled Waters” by Lynn M. Diener Page 1 NATIONAL CENTER FOR CASE STUDY TEACHING IN SCIENCE Part II – Lead Patty’s boss told her that scientists had done tests and a number of toxins and pathogenic bacteria were found in the food waters. Exposure to any of the toxins or bacteria has the potential to lead to illness in the stranded New Orleans residents or the rescue workers trying to transport them to safer locations. One toxin found at levels higher in the food water than those deemed safe for drinking water was lead (Pb). Lead (Pb), a heavy metal with a molecular weight of 207 g/mole, is a central nervous system toxin. Especially dangerous for young children, it can cause learning disabilities. It also has been linked to nausea, abdominal pain, irritability, insomnia, excess lethargy or hyperactivity, headache, gastrointestinal problems, and anemia. More serious symptoms include seizure and coma. Current uses of lead include batteries, ceramic glazes, projectiles for f rearms, radiation shielding, solder, electrodes, etc. Past uses include paint pigment, plumbing pipes, and leaded gasoline Questions 1. What are some possible sources for the lead in the f ood water? 2. How could you determine where the lead comes from? 3. What populations/individuals are at the highest risk from the lead in the food waters and why? “Katrina’s Troubled Waters” by Lynn M. Diener Page 2 NATIONAL CENTER FOR CASE STUDY TEACHING IN SCIENCE Part III – Soil Patty found research suggesting that the main source of lead was from the soil. Concentrations of lead were found to be 150 to 800 times more concentrated in the top 0.025 mm of soil than acceptable based on guidelines set out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She also discovered that the primary route of exposure for lead is oral, with small contributions from inhalation and skin absorption. Questions 1. What are some reasons why the concentration of lead is so high in New Orleans soil? 2. Would you expect a diference between New Orleans and New York City soil? 3. Would you expect a diference between New Orleans and the soil in a very small, rural town? 4. What precautions could Patty take to minimize her exposure to lead? 5. Should Patty stay and help the rescue efort or should she quit her job?

Answer 1

Questions

1. If you were Patty, what concerns would you have about being a rescue worker?

If I were Patty, I would be worried about water, viruses and bacteria that are harmful to humans.

2. Are any of your concerns health-related? Order your health-related concerns from highestconcern to lowest.

Yes. Contaminated soil, fungi, viruses.

3. How many of these concerns exist only in the flood conditions present in New Orleans rightafter Hurricane Katrina?

Contaminated water is the issue that occurs only in flood conditions in New Orleans immediately following Hurricane Katrin.

Questions

1. What are some possible sources for the lead in the food water?

New Orleans is an old town, and they have to have older homes that make me think the lead could come from the chipped paints used on older homes. Perhaps these paints were chipped off from the strength of the flowing waters which hit the homes.

2. How could you determine where the lead comes from?

You may tell where the lead comes from by installing lead level detectors in various places in New Orleans that vary by altitude, whether they are near to residential , industrial or agricultural areas.

3. What populations/individuals are at the highest risk from the lead in the food waters and why?

Kids in floodwaters are at the greatest risk from lead as they have small bodies and the bioaccumulation of contaminants such as lead develops faster than an adult 's body does. This induces children's learning disorders, nervous system damage, nausea, stomach pain, irritability, headaches, anemia, epilepsy, and coma.

Questions 1. What are some reasons why the concentration of lead is so high in New Orleans soil?

New Orleans may have plenty of ceramic glazes, weapons bullets, radiation shielding, soldering, electrodes painting pigments like the ones I described earlier about the older homes. Certain outlets include leaded fuel and plumbing pipes.

2. Would you expect a difference between New Orleans and New York City soil?

I would assume some sort of difference because the two towns are so far from each other and the soil in both towns has nearly the same soil history at the same time.

3. Would you expect a difference between New Orleans and the soil in a very small, rural town?

The old town 's soil is closer together, and bunches up, rather than the New Orleans spreading dirt. For rural areas the soil should have higher levels of concentration of lead.

4. What precautions could Patty take to minimize her exposure to lead?

She should wear a breathing mask and cover all of her body's exposed parts, since lead can reach the body through the skin and through inhalation.

5. Should Patty stay and help the rescue effort or should she quit her job?

With the right precautions and safety measures, Patty will save many lives and help restore the area, and have a community impact. If it helps someone's individual need to raise the economic stance of the region, the effect can be small or large.