Scientists are challenging the optimistic scenario presented by a government oil spill report. A conclusion by National Incident Command that the majority of the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico had been burned, collected or vaporized has been cast into doubt by 3 scientific studies . Shrimping waters were re-opened. The President and his family swam within the gulf and ate seafood last week. However, 75 percent of the oil has yet to be collected and will threaten the ecosystem for years, as outlined by a University of Georgia (UGA) study. A massive oil plume was discovered on the sea floor by University of South Florida (USF)researchers. A study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) reports the oil leak is a long-term threat to human health and gulf seafood safety.
Government oil leak report says impact is minimal
Most of the oil leak within the Gulf of Mexico 2010 has been safely dispersed, as outlined by government statements. The Wall Street Journal reports the federal National Incident Command said earlier this month that half of the 4.9 million gallons of oil spilled had been burned off or skimmed. An additional 25 percent had either dissolved or evaporated. Up to 79 percent of the oil and its toxic byproducts remain under the sea, said UGA researchers at the forefront of investigating underwater oil plumes created by the oil spill. It could be years, they concluded, before the petrochemicals break down. The scientists pointed out the obvious fact that 25 percent of the oil could not have evaporated unless it was on the surface. Large plumes of oil are trapped in deep water.
Deepwater canyon holds massive oil plume
The USF team concluded that further east than previously thought a large portion of the BP oil leak has settled to the bottom of the gulf. CNN reports the USF study found that dispersants apparently have sent droplets of oil to the depths, where it is suspended in an undersea canyon about 40 miles offshore from the Florida panhandle. Plankton and other organisms at the base of the food chain showed a “strong toxic response” to the crude. The oil could resurface later. A UGA scientist told CNN that methane and other gases-about a third of the total hydrocarbons in the spill, remain within the water and weren’t documented within the government report.
Severe concerns about gulf seafood safety
The BP oil spill will affect gulf seafood safety for years according to the AMA. The Sacramento Bee reports that in the short term, gulf shellfish have difficulty clearing their systems of dangerous petrochemicals comparable to those found in cigarette smoke and soot. Big game fish for instance tuna, swordfish and mackerel will amass high concentrations of mercury in the long term from consuming fish lower within the food chain. Over time, the report said that doctors may feel compelled to advise pregnant women and kids to severely scale back their consumption of gulf seafood.
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Wall Street Journal
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704868604575434074237252604.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories
CNN
cnn.com/2010/US/08/17/gulf.oil.disaster/index.html?npt=NP1
Sacramento Bee
sacbee.com/2010/08/17/2963788/gulf-oil-spill-still-a-threat.html
