NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Seven oil cleanup workers remained
hospitalized Thursday after they reported dizziness, severe
headaches and nausea while working on boats in Louisiana coastal
waters.
West Jefferson Medical Center spokeswoman Taslin Alfonso said
doctors believe the likely cause is chemical irritation and
dehydration from long hours working in the heat.
Alfonso said the workers told doctors they believe chemicals
used to break up the oil made them ill.
Authorities said the workers became ill Wednesday while cleaning
up oil in Breton Sound, southeast of New Orleans. Officials with
the joint spill command ordered all 125 commercial boats working
the cleanup there to leave the area. It was not clear whether boats
had returned to the area Thursday.

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