Scientists are challenging the optimistic scenario presented by a government oil leak report. Three reports cast significant doubt on the conclusion by National Incident Command that nearly three quarters of the oil had been collected, burned or evaporated . Shrimping waters were re-opened. President Obama ate shellfish and swam within the gulf last week with his family. However, 75 percent of the oil has yet to be collected and will threaten the ecosystem for years, according to a University of Georgia (UGA) study. On the sea floor, a huge toxic oil plume was detected by University of South Florida (USF) scientists. .
Government oil spill report said spill has been dispersed
Official statements released by the administration declare that BP oil spill has been dispersed to safe levels. The Wall Street Journal reports that the federal National Event 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. UGA researchers at the forefront of investigating underwater oil plumes created by the oil spill said as much as 79 percent of the oil and its toxic byproducts nevertheless remain below the surface. The petrochemicals will take years to break down within the environment, they concluded. The group said it was extremely hard for dissolved oil to evaporate because only oil at the surface can evaporate. Throughout the spill area, large oil plumes are trapped within the depths.
Deepwater canyon holds massive oil plume
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 within the crude are having a profound effect on plankton and other organisms at the base of the food chain. It is possible the oil could return to the surface. The CNN article quoted a UGA researcher who said the government did not document a 3rd of the hydrocarbons because it did not measure methane and other gas emissions nevertheless in water.
Major questions about gulf seafood safety
The BP oil leak will affect gulf seafood safety for years as outlined by the AMA. The Sacramento Bee reports that within the short term, gulf shellfish have difficulty clearing their systems of dangerous petrochemicals comparable to those found in cigarette smoke and soot. By consuming fish lower in the food chain, large game fish for instance tuna, swordfish and mackerel will accumulate high concentrations of mercury in the long term. The report said that over time pregnant women and children may be warned by their doctors to keep away from 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
