Who would you believe?

For people to make rational economic decision they must have accurate information on the expected consequences of their decision.  Many times, such information is tough to get.  Take for example the decision to return to New Orleans.  Who would you believe?

From Reuters:

State and federal officials gave the "all-clear" to residents and tourists, saying recent alarming reports by environmentalists about toxic sediment are unfounded.

In fact, the state's chief environmental officer said the deluge that covered 80 percent of the city was no more polluted than typical floodwater.

[...]

In fact, McDaniel said neighboring Lake Pontchartrain's water quality is now "about as good as we've seen them," and is fit for swimming and harvesting seafood.

Air quality actually is better than normal because of reduced industrial and vehicular activity, he said.

But:

Environmentalists, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, have released their own testing they said shows potentially dangerous levels of several contaminants in the dried sediment left behind by floodwaters.

Environmental chemist Wilma Subra, working for the council and the Sierra Club, said arsenic was a particular worry, but that sediment also contains chromium, lead, barium, cadmium, mercury and hydrocarbons.

"The government has a legal obligation to begin the cleanup immediately," said Monique Hardin, co-director of the New Orleans-based Advocates for Environmental Human Rights. "People have a right to return to healthy homes and neighborhoods."

Government officials counter that residents can do so now.

"We're not seeing anything out of the ordinary that we wouldn't normally see this time of year from the standpoint of upper respiratory illnesses," said Louisiana State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry.

The two biggest health issues in post-Katrina New Orleans, Guidry said, are cleanup-related injuries and mold that has grown unabated in moist structures.

"Mold is a major issue -- we do want people to be very careful with that," he said.

Now that you have the information, would you move back?