In
Ecotone, Josh Schimal responds to a question on long-term ecological
effects of the chemicals used during the Exxon Valdez cleanup, noting
that dispersants used were relatively short-lived (see below). However,
in a recent article, Abrahm Lustgarten (recipient of a MacArthur Foundation
grant for international reporting) notes that the dispersants used by BP (which
bought up a third of the world's supply) may have long-term effects.
Chemicals Meant To Break Up BP Oil Spill Present New Environmental Concerns
by Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica - April 30, 2010 5:44 pm EDT
http://www.propublica.org/article/bp-gulf-oil-spill-dispersants-0430
Hope Woodward
Hyampom, CA
Q: There were
several chemicals used during the Exxon Valdez cleanup. How were they
used and did they work? Were there any long term ecological effects
from the chemicals?
A (Josh Schimel):
At sea, they used dispersants. Those are likely relatively short-lived
in the environment, and given the flow patterns of the Sound, would be
flushed out to the south-west with the prevailing currents to be
diluted into the North Pacific Ocean. Their characteristics might also
make them somewhat biodegradable or photodegradable themselves.
--- On Mon, 5/3/10, Katie Kline <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Katie Kline <[email protected]>
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: Q&A-Ecologists assess oil spill damage
To: [email protected]
Date: Monday, May 3, 2010, 12:27 PM
An oil slick originating from a rig about 130 miles southeast of New Orleans,
which is dumping oil into the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of approximately 25,000
barrels per day, is drifting toward the Alabama, Florida and Louisiana coasts,
and scientists are still assessing the ecological impact that will result. In
this Q&A, three members of the Ecological Society of America's Rapid Response
Team discuss the current and possible future damage of this spill and the
effects it could have on the Gulf region.
Read the full article and comment at
http://www.esa.org/esablog/ecology-in-policy/qa-ecologists-assess-oil-spill-damage/.
