LSU clears N.O. water of toxic claims.

LSU researchers concluded that New Orleans-area flood waters from Hurricane Katrina were no more toxic than the normal storm water running out of the city.

But, they concluded, chemical levels were higher than what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deems safe for freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.

"The metals (such as copper and zinc) are the things we are most concerned with," said John Pardue of LSU Water Resources Research Institute on Tuesday. Fish, crabs and other aquatic critters "would be vulnerable" to bioaccumulation of toxic metals, he said.

Further study will be needed. Lead, cadmium, arsenic and nickel levels exceeded some, but not all, regulatory criteria, Pardue said.

It's something of a relief to have more independent confirmation of the EPA's findings about the toxicity of the N.O. floodwaters. Not that we don't trust Bush's EPA.