Mustard Gas Eyed In Clam Boat Sickness
Did World War I-era mustard gas make the crew of a New Bedford clamming boat sick?
That's what investigators are trying to find out.
The crew of the E.S.S. Pursuit picked up at least 10 old military canisters as they were dragging the ocean floor clamming just south of Long Island Sunday.
New Bedford fisherman Kevin O'Sullivan and another crew member handled one of the canisters as they threw them back into the ocean.
It broke open and exposed a fisherman named Costa, causing blistering on his arm and leg.
"He experienced immediate pain," said O'Sullivan, who also had shortness of breath.
Both men were taken to the hospital, while two more crew members were transported Monday night when the vessel returned to New Bedford.
Now it's quarantined in the harbor.
"There's a 500-foot radius around that ship that no one can go to, except us," said Captain Kevin Morris of the Marine Strike Team.
"My eyes are quite sore; I wash my eyes every few minutes. There's burning on my face, cheeks and hands," said E.S.S. Pursuit captain Kieran Kelly, who has refused to leave the boat during the investigation.
While investigators have narrowed down the chemical agent, they've yet to officially identify it.
As a precaution, the Coast Guard has marked the area south of Long Island where the canisters were dumped.
O'Sullivan told WBZ the canisters had the date "1914" or "1918" on it.
? 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report
WBZ-TV That's what investigators are trying to find out.
The crew of the E.S.S. Pursuit picked up at least 10 old military canisters as they were dragging the ocean floor clamming just south of Long Island Sunday.
New Bedford fisherman Kevin O'Sullivan and another crew member handled one of the canisters as they threw them back into the ocean.
It broke open and exposed a fisherman named Costa, causing blistering on his arm and leg.
"He experienced immediate pain," said O'Sullivan, who also had shortness of breath.
Both men were taken to the hospital, while two more crew members were transported Monday night when the vessel returned to New Bedford.
Now it's quarantined in the harbor.
"There's a 500-foot radius around that ship that no one can go to, except us," said Captain Kevin Morris of the Marine Strike Team.
"My eyes are quite sore; I wash my eyes every few minutes. There's burning on my face, cheeks and hands," said E.S.S. Pursuit captain Kieran Kelly, who has refused to leave the boat during the investigation.
While investigators have narrowed down the chemical agent, they've yet to officially identify it.
As a precaution, the Coast Guard has marked the area south of Long Island where the canisters were dumped.
O'Sullivan told WBZ the canisters had the date "1914" or "1918" on it.
Local Video from WBZ in Boston
? 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report
Popular on CBSNews.com
- Tsarnaev friend implicates dead brother, self in murders 154 Comments
- Victims of deadly Oklahoma tornado 6 Photos
- Up-close video of Moore, Okla., tornado Play Video
- Oklahoma tornado as seen by storm chasers Play Video
- Tornado's destructive path 17 Photos
- Minn. park landslide leaves 1 child dead, 1 missing
- Over 50 injured following Ind. school buses crash
- Tornado victims start picking up the pieces
Hmmm, so you've never heard of John Muir? It's not like there's a National Park named after him. It couldn't possibly be the case that you're the one who is the idiot, right? I mean, you're obviously so well informed and all.
.
I was in the Coast Guard in the late 60's. I don't know how much garbage... piant cans... old electronic equipment... we tossed overboard out in the middle of Lake Superior when no civilian crafts were around to observe. Then we'd issue citations to civilians who did the same thing.