Sandra Gonzalez WGNO News

6:44 p.m. CDT, April 19, 2011
NEW ORLEANS—

It was supposed to disperse the oil during and after the oil spill, but some think Corexit has only hidden the problem and created a new one. People held a rally outside the Federal building.

"We believe this is happening. Bp is using the Corexit to sink the oil, to hide the oil without any concern for not only human life but wildlife," said Elizabeth Cook with the Emergency Committee to Stop the Gulf Oil Disaster.

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Protesters gathered outside the Federal building angry about the use of Corexit, a dispersant, in the coastal waters following the oil disaster one year ago. They are not only angry with BP, but also the federal government, saying they aren't doing enough in terms of testing and protecting from what they say is a poisonous chemical.

"We believe BP's assets at the very least should be seized and applied to address the issues of the gulf coast and that includes vile remediation, health care for everyone and rebuilding restoring the wetlands that have been damaged by these chemicals," Cook said.

And one message that all these activists share is there belief that the waters in the Gulf are not safe because of dispersants.

"My biggest concern is that the cCrexit does not dissipate as easily or eaten by bacteria in the water, it's not as easily, it doesn't easily go away. It stays in the water table, so our waters are poisoned, and thus the shrimp, the fish, and everything that's in the waters are getting poisoned," said Darlene Eschete, an activist from the Houma area.

In fact , Eschete won't take her grandchildren to the beach and has not eaten seafood taken from the Gulf since the oil spill.

"The only seafood I have eaten has been in my freezer prior to the oil spill. I have two packs of shrimp left and I'm hanging on to that," Eschete said.

And these people are hanging on to their beliefs the waters are being poisoned by disperants.

 Some of the protesters say they would like the Oil Spill Commission's book of regulations to be approved by Congress soon. They also encourage the public to do some research, before going into the Gulf.