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The latest in a seemingly never-ending series of horror stories arising in the wake of the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico comes to us in the form of a new acronym: TILT, short for Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance. Cleanup workers-—formerly known as shrimpers, oystermen and fishermen, but now increasingly known as patients—-have reported strange, flu-like symptoms such as joint pains, upper respiratory problems, difficulty breathing, stomach cramping, nervousness, inability to concentrate, balance difficulty, nausea, headaches, skin rashes, pain with or frequent urination.

Workers’ complaints to BP initially went unheeded as the company claimed it was unaware of any such problems and was slow to provide respirators to workers who experienced symptoms from odors associated with both petroleum and the chemical dispersants used to combat the spill.

According to InventorSpot.com, TILT (also known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) can be caused by exposure to diesel or gas engine exhaust, gasoline, tobacco smoke, insecticide, cleaning products like disinfectants or bleach cleansers, fresh tar or asphalt.

Despite a request to OSHA in late May by George Miller (D-Cal), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, to ensure that there were sufficient OSHA personnel dispatched to the Gulf of Mexico “to properly and aggressively protect the health and safety of those involved in the [BP] oil cleanup activities,” workers and citizens of Gulf communities are still getting sick.

While BP says it’s doing all it can to keep supplies stocked and has had to turn to foreign companies for help, the AP reports that, with demand so high for everything from plastic gloves, to oil-blocking booms and sand-sifting machines, finding enough items to outfit workers and protect the coast is an unending task. Added to that, the summer’s heat and humidity of the region pretty much ensures that we’ll be hearing a lot more about TILT.

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As a result of the BP tragedy 2 months ago, crude oil continues to pour into the Gulf of Mexico-—but its effects are sure to reach beyond the environment. In an Institute of Medicine forum in New Orleans on Tuesday, psychiatrists warned that the spill—-already affecting the financial viability and physical health of local inhabitants-—may have long-term psychological consequences on residents, mental health workers, cleanup volunteers, and others. Using Katrina as a reference point, community workers are scrambling to attend to the needs of local inhabitants in order to prevent psychological effects of a large-scale disaster. These can take the form of stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, posttraumatic stress, and even suicidal thoughts.

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Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of __________________, code name ‘Nike”,
signing off