Blog Seven: Fish Embryos Exposed to Oil From BP Spill Develop Deformities, a Study Finds

Summary: This article, as the title suggests, was about the contamination and poor development of fish embryos that had been exposed to oil during the BP oil spill. The oil spill, also known as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, occurred almost four years ago and included the spillage of nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Researchers have discovered numerous deformities in several different species of fish embryos, including herring, salmon, and tuna. One of the researchers, Barbara Block, also stated that it is a recently discovered fact that petroleum “has a cardio-toxic impact on vertebrate hearts.” The researchers stated that, at this present time, there is no obvious decrease in fish populations in this area which the oil spill occurred.

Analysis: As an Environmental Studies major, reading articles like this one just make me shake my head. The information is there. We know that these chemicals and resources can bring harm to not only ourselves but to other living, breathing creatures as well. Honestly, it’s quite stupid that we allow things like this to even happen. When animals are exposed to toxins and we then eat them, the level of toxicity found in our bodies is actually amplified compared to what was in the animal’s body. Besides the immediate concern of which fish were affected by the oil spill, you must also consider the possibility of fish sales and also the sheer size and volume of this spill. There is honestly no telling how far the oil could have spread or how many countries it affected, directly or indirectly. It may take another ten or fifteen years to have a full view of this spill, from the event itself to the last effects of its aftermath. I’ve heard that hindsight is 20/20. I’m curious to see whether we keep our eyes open and observe in the future or if we will close them and pretend like we saw nothing. 

Published in the New York Times on Tuesday, March 25, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/25/us/fish-embryos-exposed-to-oil-from-bp-spill-develop-deformities-a-study-finds.html?_r=0