British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon oil rig explodes off the Louisiana coast, setting off one of the largest environmental disasters in US history. Crude oil gushes into the coastal waterways, threatening the health of children and families in the region.
NCDP Director Irwin Redlener, MD, and a NCDP research team make a site visit to the Gulf region, accompanied by leaders from Children's Health Fund.
Drs. Redlener and Abramson give presentations at a major scientific workshop organized by the Institute on Medicine (IOM) in New Orleans, on "Assessing the Effects on the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health."
NCDP researchers organize a long-term method to track the impact of the gulf oil spill on children and families, similar to the Gulf Coast Child and Family Health Study (GCAFH) which was launched by NCDP and CHF following Katrina. Researchers begin developing a questionnaire.
The Gulf Coast Population Impact (GCPI) Project is up and running, led by NCDP, in partnership with the Children's Health Fund, with the survey conducted by The Marist Poll. 1,200 adults (18 years or older), residents of Louisiana and Mississippi who live within approximately 10 miles of the Gulf Coast, are interviewed by telephone.
NCDP releases its report, "Impact on Children and Families of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Preliminary Findings of the Coastal Population Impact Study."
An article appears in the New York Times, under the head 'Survey Finds Broad Anxiety Among Gulf Residents.' Dr. Redlener reports that 'Our survey shows a persistent and overwhelming level of anxiety among families living near the coast, driven by both medical symptoms in their children as a substantial level of psychological stress. "
US Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana cites the NCDP study in a letter to the CEO of BP, requesting grants to the Gulf states to support mental health services for individuals and families impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The NCDP study is the first evidence she cites in making the appeal for funds.
BP announces that it will provide $15 million to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals for mental health support and outreach programs. Senator Landrieu says that is a "down payment on combating the post traumatic stress, anxiety and depression that our people may face in the coming weeks and months."
ProPublica reports that BP will spend a total of $52 million in funding for one federal and four state agencies to provide support and outreach services for mental health programs in the Gulf. "BP's announcement comes after researchers from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health published an early study of the toll that the spill has on had on mental health in the Gulf region."
