We're losing the buffer that used to filter the Mississippi's waters.

CNN: Your e-mails: 'Clean up our wetlands'

We're living on the edge - there's no cushion, no buffer left.

BBC: NEWS | Americas | One year on: Katrina's legacy

"The recipe is there for a further significant deterioration from what we're seeing this year, which puts pressure on all manufacturers who had been hoping to buffer the U.S. slowdown with strong sales overseas, " said Shuster.

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