GAO asbestos study of Hurricane Katrina's effects on New Orleans

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina’s impact on the Gulf Coast around New Orleans included damage to the environment from chemical and hazardous materials, such as asbestos.

Also, the widespread demolition and renovation activities still under way in New Orleans may release asbestos fibers into the air, posing a potential additional health risk.

This report, conducted at the Comptroller General’s initiative, addresses:

• The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) actions to assess and mitigate Katrina’s environmental impacts;

• The extent to which EPA has assurance that public health is protected from asbestos inhalation risks in New Orleans;

• The extent to which EPA’s environmental health risk communications provided useful information to the public; and,

• Challenges EPA faces in addressing environmental impacts.

Courtesy of the Government Office of Accountability