subject: Gulf Oil Spill and Its Impact on the Environment for Decades to Come [print this page] Gulf Oil Spill and Its Impact on the Environment for Decades to Come
Most of us would never have seen a disaster like the Gulf oil spill that has unfolded before us. Claiming the lives of 11 workers, the Gulf Oil Spill stands unbeaten as the worst ever oil spill in the history of mankind. The thick layer of crude formed on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico is proving to be dangerous for the marine mammals as they accidently consume toxic oil when they come to the surface to breathe.
The U.S government has declared the Gulf Oil Spill as a "fishery disaster" in the seafood-producing states. The marine pollution caused by the oil spill has disturbed the key links of the food chain affecting the ecosystem and making the fishes unfit for consumption. The North Atlantic Bluefin Tuna spawns in the Gulf of Mexico between mid-April and mid-June, and is in potential danger of becoming extinct due to the oil spread. Five of the world's seven species of turtles live and breed in this region, which also includes two endangered species of turtles that are threatened to become extinct due the oil spill. There are also few species of sharks, birds, and other mammals that are facing trouble due to the Gulf Oil Spill.
Even the state bird of Louisiana, the Brown Pelican that nests on barrier islands and feeds near the shore and has just been restored from the endangered species list, now stands the risk of being pushed into the same. The ineffective oil spill cleanup methods have called for the worst to come. Usage of kerosene based dispersants, ignoring biodegradable solutions like Oil Gone Easy S-200, has taken a toll on the environment and has resulted in irrevocable marine pollution.
Those who say it is impossible to calculate the effect of the Gulf Oil Spill might prove to be right, taking into consideration the long term effects!
