The BP Health Crisis by the numbers

Compiled by Facing South/The Institute for Southern Studies.  Percent of the population living within 10 miles of Gulf of Mexico waters in areas affected by the BP disaster who were directly exposed to the spilled oil: 40

Percent of Southeast Louisiana residents surveyed by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade who reported being exposed to BP's oil or chemical dispersants: 46

Precent of those who believed they were exposed who reported at least one associated health symptom: 72

Number of former Exxon Valdez cleanup workers estimated to be suffering from illnesses related to that 1989 disaster: 3,000

Number of people who trained to be cleanup workers following the BP disaster: about 100,000

Date on which the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced its concerns that some BP oil spill workers were not receiving proper training: 7/7/2010

Date on which BP cleanup worker Clayton Matherne was airlifted to shore after he began vomiting blood due to chemical poisoning: 5/30/2010

Number of years that Matherne's doctors say he can expect to live if detoxification therapy fails to work: 5

Number of pieces of protective gear that Matherne was provided with during his more than one month on the cleanup job: 0

Of the18 chemical dispersants that the EPA has approved for use on oil spills, number found to be more effective on southern Louisiana crude than Corexit, the brand that was used: 12

Number of times less toxic than Corexit some of the other brands are: 10 or 20

Number of gallons of dispersant BP has reported spraying on the spill: about 2 million

Date on which the EPA and Coast Guard ordered BP to stop using surface dispersants on the spill without first getting special exemptions: 5/26/2010

Percent by which dispersant use declined following that order: 9

Under FDA guidelines, number of jumbo Gulf shrimp it's safe for a 176-pound man to eat each week given levels of oil contamination: 4

Median number of seafood meals consumed by Gulf residents each month: 20