Houston - In the Gulf, disaster response crews are sucking up the oil from the water's surface. On land, they're collecting what's washed ashore.

And at hospitals in Louisiana, doctors and nurses are manning decontamination tents.

"We usually get a phone call ahead of time when patients are coming in, who have been exposed to some sort of chemical. whether it be from the oil spill or something else. We wash them off to be safe."

As doctors on the ground deal with a first-of-its-kind problem, other medical experts are meeting with scientists at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services.

While, most experts seem to think there is little reason to worry about oil related health issues now, they're not sure about the potential long term effects.

Dr. Harish Seethamraju is a pulmonary specialist at Methodist Hospital in Houston.

Seethamraju says potential problems include wheezing and asthma, but that's not all. "It they take a swim in these waters, the toxic chemicals can cause pneumonia and respiratory failure."

So far, 109 illnesses have been reported in Louisiana, 29 in Alabama, and none in either Mississippi or Florida. Most of the cases involved response workers and were mild. The Department of Health and Human Services has set aside $10 million to study cleanup workers and gulf residents over time.

"Nobody has experience with that," said Seethamraju. "We have never seen such enormous amounts of exposure."

After our nation was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, volunteers scrambled to help clean up.

Years later, researchers found those exposed to the dust from the World Trade Center were more likely to develop respiratory problems.

Experts don't want to see that happen again.

But as the oil continues to release vapors, and response teams continue to soak it all up, it is the uncertainty of what the future holds that has doctors talking.

"At the Gulf Coast, the likelihood of that is low at this time," said Seethamraju. "If it is continued exposure, (and) the concentration of this chemical continues to rise in the water, then definitely it is a risk."