Valdez Spill Worse than Thought; Effects Last Decades

[MisterP]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/12/22/alaska.valdez.reut/index.html

A study published in the journal Science has found the devastating effects on Alaska’s waters and beaches from 1989’s Exxon Valdez oil spill lasted far longer and are far worse than first suspected.
When the Valdez supertanker slammed into a reef and started pouring 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound, scientists knew thousands of birds and sea mammals would die quickly. But they predicted the environment would recover as soon as the oil weathered and dissipated.
Instead, sea life suffered for years, because even tiny patches of remnant oil lowered sur-vival, slowed reproduction and stunted growth. Lingering oil has created cascading problems for fish, birds and marine mammals, according to the new study, published .
"Everything wasn’t all right in July 1989, and it wasn’t all right for a number of organisms years after that," Charles Peterson, a University of North Carolina professor and the report’s principal investigator, told Reuters.

[Buzz Clik]

1. Slow dissipation, chronic problems

"When the Valdez supertanker slammed into a reef and started pouring 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound, scientists knew thousands of birds and sea mammals would die quickly. But they predicted the environment would recover as soon as the oil weathered and dissipated."

The results of a number of studies agree with those reported in the quoted article. The problem arises from a combination of the slow dissipation of the oil and unanticipated chronic problems in the animals. Petroleum weathers and degrades relatively quickly when temperatures are warm; large populations of microorganisms are present to degrade the petroleum; and, oxygen is not limiting. Low temperatures, low populations of "bugs", and low levels of oxygen combine to result in extended persistence of the hydrocarbons.

[MisterP]

2. welcome to DU, Buzz Clik!