<p>A friend of mine mentioned that before I let my daughter accept her offer to go to Tulane, I should not only visit but also look into any of the affects of Katrina related to potential toxins and bacteria. Anyone concerned about that or done any research on the subject? This hadn’t even occurred to me. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Unless your daughter is going to be living in a Fema trailer or an abandoned house that had been submerged, she’ll be fine. I’ve lived in New Orleans since 1992 and can tell you those things aren’t an issue. I almost thought this was a joke post at first, then I realized how paranoid the national media has made people about New Orleans. </p>
<p>Since Katrina the city has hosted an NBA Allstar Game, a College football (BCS) National Championship, 3 Sugar Bowls, an American Heart Association Conference, etc. The list goes on and on. Attendance at the annual events like Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and Essence Fest has been higher than ever before. None of that would have been hosted here had those been problems. Rest easy. Tulane is a great school in a great town.</p>
<p>I’ll add some notes to my above post for some additional info on some legitimate concerns regarding toxins ect from Katrina. For 6 months after the storm there was what people were calling the ‘Katrina Cough.’ I myself had it. It was essentially just a cough people had gotten from walking around in areas that had been flooded by a few feet of water and mud (so about 80% of the city), which turned to dust in the drought after Katrina. People’s allergies were supposedly slightly worse as well but I never had this problem personally. </p>
<p>After about 6 months, around March of 2006, all of the dust had been blown away or cleaned up. The city hasn’t had a problem since. At its worse, it was a slight, occasional cough. Granted, there was still present damage 6 months+ out but nothing causing any health concerns. The city has made a drastic and admirable recovery since then with the help of a tremendous number of volunteers from around the country.</p>
<p>Fema trailer-wise, there have been multiple, and I do mean multiple reports that the Fema trailers given to some down here had higher than normal levels of formaldehyde which has made some people sick and have headaches. </p>
<p>These are the only health concerns that resulted from Katrina. Again, best of luck to you and your child.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply. I too thought the comment was odd but after realizing it was from a friend whose husband had gotten cancer from environmental elements he had been exposed to, I started to really think about it. Moms just worry about stuff…</p>
<p>nj_mom: I understand parents worry about that stuff, but totally echo Benetode that there is no issue at all. No place has been subject to testing more than post-Katrina New Orleans. EPA has estabished an almost rock-like presence there to check for anything amiss in the water supply, ground water after rains, and soil quality. I am (as you can tell from my name) a chemist by education and I sent my D to Tulane without a hint of a qualm regarding the issues you mention.</p>
<p>Meaning no disrespect NJ_Mom, but someone from NEW JERSEY (home of 308 Superfund sites) worried about environmental issues in some OTHER state?</p>