The Institute of Medicine will be hosting a small public workshop in New Orleans, June 22 and 23, on possible health risks to Gulf coast residents and
workers in the wake of the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A June 16 congressional hearing previewed some of the concerns likely to arise at
the meeting. They ranged from potential long-terms risks of DNA damage to claims that BP failed to provide protective gear to contract crews hired to
clean up oil.