rudi, i doubt that your clients need you to die for them. You sound very distressed about your susceptibility to lung related issues. I know that I would not be able to stay in the area w/the lung issues I have.
Perhaps you need to start planning your relocation. Perhaps you can find something somewhere else where you can continue to use your talents to work w/vets.
and then, when the smoke clears (I really hate seeing the video of them burning off all that oil and gas into the gas) perhaps, you will be able to return to the Gulf area.