A BP wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico erupted on April 20th, 2010, releasing millions of barrels of oil and methane gas into the waters of the Gulf, as well as being responsible for the death of eleven workers. Scientists and Federal agencies alike are researching the long term effects after these 5 years since the spill, which was the largest environmental disaster in United States history. BP, conducting it's own research, supports the claim that the Gulf is "healing itself," essentially making a full recovery. However, many researches claim that this assessment is "inappropriate as well as premature," saying that the effects of the spill are believed to last for generations. What is known is that, while fishing is returning back to normal, and the seafood is once again safe to eat, dolphin and bird populations are declining at a rapid rate, as well as unknown effects on seaturtles. Residue, as well, is said to have layered the sea floor for an estimated 1,200 square miles, though this is denied by BP.
The effects of this incident are the kind that would have been exposed in books such as Silent Spring and others that came out during the rise of the Environmental Movement in the second half of the 20th Century. Though the movement during that time has had it's ups and downs, specifically Presidencies such as the Reagan and Bush administration (with Reagan even claiming that "trees produce more pollution than autromobiles,") the effects of the movement can still be seen today with such things as government recycling programs and the rise of renewable energy sources.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/14/us/gulf-oil-spill-unknowns/index.html
It is great to hear about this event so long after it happened. Quentin Noble P2
ReplyDeleteI've almost forgotten about this tragedy. It harmed the so much of the underwater environment and killed so many fish.
ReplyDeleteLauren Kuehmeier, per. 2