Scientists are challenging the optimistic scenario presented by a government oil leak report. National Incident Command had concluded in a report that most of the BP oil spill evaporated or had been collected or burned, but three reports say nearly the opposite . Shrimping areas were expanded. President Obama ate shellfish and swam within the gulf last week with his family. But a University of Georgia (UGA) study estimates that 3 quarters of the oil hasn’t been recovered and remains a long-term threat to the ecosystem. A massive oil plume was discovered on the sea floor by University of South Florida (USF)researchers. The oil spill is a long-term threat to human health and gulf seafood safety in a study released by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Official statements released by the administration declare that many of the BP oil leak has been dispersed to safe levels. The Wall Street Journal reports that National Event Command, which managed the oil leak response, said about half of the 4.9 million gallon BP oil spill had been skimmed or burned. An additional 25 percent had either dissolved or evaporated. UGA scientists who have led the way in oil plume research since the spill started said up to 79 percent of the oil, as well as its toxic byproducts, are still within the water. It could be years, they concluded, before the petrochemicals break down. The scientists pointed out the clear 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.
Oil plume settles in ocean floor canyon
The USF team concluded that further east than previously thought a large portion of the BP oil spill has settled to the bottom of the gulf. As reported by CNN, USF scientists conclude that dispersants mixed with oil to create a massive cloud of droplets floating near the bottom in an undersea canyon about 40 miles from the Florida panhandle. The toxic chemicals in the crude are having a profound effect on plankton and other organisms at the base of the food chain. 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.
Gulf seafood safety faces long term threat
The BP oil leak will affect gulf seafood safety for years according to the AMA. In the short term, the Sacramento Bee reports that gulf shellfish will retain dangerous petrochemicals likened to cigarette smoke and soot. By consuming fish lower in the food chain, large game fish such as tuna, swordfish and mackerel will accumulate high concentrations of mercury within the long term. 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
