THE WAR ON MOTHER NATURE: The BP Oil Spill Disaster - Petroleum Products From The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Linked To Deaths Of Newborn Dolphins!

Researchers investigated the deaths of perinatal dolphins, like this one, found in regions affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.© Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

April 12, 2016 - GULF OF MEXICO - Scientists have finalized a four-year study of newborn and fetal dolphins found stranded on beaches in the northern Gulf of Mexico between 2010 and 2013. Their study, reported in the journal Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, identified substantial differences between fetal and newborn dolphins found stranded inside and outside the areas affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The study team evaluated 69 perinatal common bottlenose dolphins in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, the areas most affected by the spill, and 26 others found in areas unaffected by the spill. The work was conducted as part of an effort to investigate an "unusual mortality event" in the Gulf primarily involving bottlenose dolphins, beginning in early 2010 and continuing into 2014.

Scientists saw higher numbers of stranded perinatal dolphins in the spill zone in 2011 than in other years, particularly in Mississippi and Alabama, the researchers report. The young dolphins, which died in the womb or shortly after birth, "were significantly smaller than those that stranded during previous years and in other geographic locations," they wrote.

Bottlenose dolphin gestation takes about 380 days, so perinatal dolphins that died in the early months of 2011 could have been exposed in the womb to petroleum products released the previous year, said University of Illinois veterinary diagnostic laboratory professor Kathleen Colegrove, who led the study. Colegrove works in the Chicago-based Zoological Pathology Program at the U. of I.

"Dolphin dams losing fetuses in 2011 would have been in the earlier stages of pregnancy in 2010 during the oil spill," she said.

The researchers report that 88 percent of the perinatal dolphins found in the spill zone had lung abnormalities, including partially or completely collapsed lungs. That and their small size suggest that they died in the womb or very soon after birth—before their lungs had a chance to fully inflate. Only 15 percent of those found in areas unaffected by the spill had this lung abnormality, the researchers said.

The team also found that the spill-zone dolphins were "particularly susceptible to late-term pregnancy failures, signs of fetal distress and development of in utero infections including brucellosis," a bacterial infection that can affect the brain, lungs, bones and reproductive function. Extensive testing found no evidence that an unusual or highly pathogenic Brucella strain was involved.

"These findings support that pregnant dolphins experienced significant health abnormalities that contributed to increased fetal deaths or deaths of dolphin neonates shortly after birth," Colegrove said.

A previous study by many of the same researchers revealed that nonperinatal bottlenose dolphins stranded in the spill zone after the spill were much more likely than other stranded dolphins to have severe lung and adrenal gland damage "consistent with petroleum product exposure."

"These diseases in pregnant dolphins likely led to reproductive losses," Colegrove said.

"Our new findings add to the mounting evidence from peer-reviewed studies that exposure to petroleum compounds following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill negatively impacted the reproductive health of dolphin populations living in the oil spill footprint in the northern Gulf of Mexico," said Dr. Teri Rowles, a veterinarian with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program and a co-author on the study.

More information: KM Colegrove et al. Fetal distress and in utero pneumonia in perinatal dolphins during the Northern Gulf of Mexico unusual mortality event, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms (2016). DOI: 10.3354/dao02969


- PHYS.

 

MASS FISH DIE-OFFS: Tens Of Thousands Of Dead Fish Found On Beach Near Jakarta, Indonesia?!

Thousands of dead fish along the coast reclamation Ancol, Jakarta (30/11/2015). Thousands of dead fish washed up on the beach
and is allegedly due to contaminated industrial waste.  © Liputan6.com/Gempur M Surya

December 2, 2015 - INDONESIA - Following the finding of tens of thousands of dead fish, resulting in a pungent smell, along Ancol Beach in North Jakarta on Monday, environmental campaign group Greenpeace has cited three possible causes for the phenomenon.

The first possibility, Greenpeace campaigner Arifsyah Nasution said on Tuesday, related to the accumulation of water from contaminated rivers on the northern coast due to rain.

"For example, water from the Ciliwung River contains organic materials and [dangerous waste] B3. During rain, this water can accumulate in the estuary, which is Jakarta Bay," Arifsyah said as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that the situation could lead to a lack of oxygen for fish. "The fish would be unable to survive due to the change in environment happening too fast," said Arifsyah.

He also said that the increased growth of a certain algae species during the rainy season could have led to competition for oxygen between plants and fish.

The third possibility, he added, was due to the B3 that came from several industries nestled in the coastal area of North Jakarta.

"The waste thrown out by [these industries] and the circulation in the seawater could lead to the death of Jakarta Bay fish," said Arifsyah, adding that the group needed to conduct further research to make a conclusive confirmation.

Previously, Jakarta Police spokesperson Comr. Edi Guritno said that he had received reports from residents regarding seawater anomalies near Ancol Beach prior to the discovery of the dead fish.

"According to locals, the sea has two types of water: clear and brown-colored," said Edi on Monday, adding that samples of the dead fish and seawater would be examined at the city's fisheries laboratory.

According to a report by kompas.com, the police and Ancol Beach management conducted a clean-up operation from 7 a.m. on Monday to transport the dead fish, which consisted of various species, to a nearby incinerator. - The Jakarta Post.

 

MASS FISH DIE-OFFS: Massive Fish Kill Spotted Along Glen Cove Creek, Glen Cove, New York - Experts Baffled?!

December 1, 2015 - NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - Long Island waters have seen yet another massive fishkill, with fish seen floating near the shores of Glen Cove Creek — many dead, but others just fighting to survive.

“There’s a lot of fish in a small area, they use up the oxygen and they’re fighting to breathe,” Lt. Lawrence Demmler, of the Glen Cove Harbor Patrol, said.

Demmler estimates well over a hundred thousand bunker fish have crowded the creek this year, opening their gills and mouths to desperately try to draw in more oxygen.

Dozens of fish have already died, with some sinking to the bottom. Others have floated to the shore to be picked apart by seagulls, CBS2’s Elise Finch reported.

“They’re just waiting for an easy meal,” Demmler said of the seagulls. “They’ve been doing it all morning.”

This recent die-off follows another massive fish die-off earlier this year on Long Island’s East End, where tens of thousands of dead fish were seen floating along the shores of the Peconic Bay.

Environmentalists believe the Glen Cove die-off is being caused by more than a lack of oxygen in the water, WLNY TV 10/55’s Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose reported.


WATCH: Glen Cove Fish Kill.

“We could do more testing of the water, we could understand the science better of what’s happening and we could put into action keeping people accountable,” Adrienne Esposito, of the Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, said.

Esposito said the state needs to go after tankers spilling oil in the Long Island Sound. She also said the state should target leaking shoreline septic tanks and the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers that decrease oxygen levels.

“People aren’t doing enough, I don’t know if I’m doing enough — I’m still using fertilizer on my lawn,” Dean Yoder, of Glen Cove, said.

Officials hope the colder temperatures will help boost oxygen levels and prevent another massive die-off. - CBS.

EUROPEAN VAMPIRISM: The War On Mother Nature - The 2010 BP Oil Spill Left Oily Ring On The Seafloor The Size Of Rhode Island; About 10 Million Gallons Of Oil Over 1,200 Square Miles!

"The biggest problem on the planet is not some devilish supernatural entity locked in an eternal struggle for human souls, or for that matter shape-shifting reptilian aliens manipulating mankind through secret societies. No, these evilous figures are really allegories or aspects of the European's inherently vampiric nature and irreverence for Mother Earth, the indigenous peoples and the animals." - Andre Heath, Publisher.

October 29, 2014 - GULF OF MEXICO - The 2010 BP oil spill that resulted in 172 million gallons of oil in the Gulf of Mexico has, four years later, left an oily “bathtub ring” about the size of Rhode Island on the sea floor surrounding the site of the Macondo well, according to new research.

About 10 million gallons of oil has collected on the sea floor near the former site of the Deepwater Horizon rig and BP-operated Macondo well, where the oil spewed from April 20 to July 15 in 2010, according to a study by David Valentine, a University of California Santa Barbara geochemist, and co-author Christopher Reddy, a marine chemist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

Cumulative BP / Deepwater Horizon oil slick footprint (orange).

The study, published Monday in ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,’ found that the oil spill has left several splotches in the Macondo well area, some with more oil residue than the 1,200-square-mile “bathtub ring.”

Valentine said though there are no chemical signature tests given the oil has since degraded, the source of the oil is obvious.

"There's this sort of ring where you see around the Macondo well where the concentrations are elevated," Valentine said, according to AP.

He added that oil levels found inside the ring were as much as 10,000 times higher than outside the ring. A chemical ingredient of oil was found on the sea floor, from two-thirds of a mile to a mile below the water’s surface.

BP questioned the study’s findings, especially since the oil can no longer be tested given its degraded state.

A drilling platform near the Transocean Discoverer Enterprise drillship burns off gas collected at the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
on June 25, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. (Chris Graythen / Getty Images / AFP)

The BP oil spill spewed 172 million gallons of oil into the Gulf in 2010.

In an email to AP, spokesman Jason Ryan said, "the authors failed to identify the source of the oil, leading them to grossly overstate the amount of residual Macondo oil on the sea floor and the geographic area in which it is found."

Though such chemical analysis is impossible at this point, study authors Valentine and Reddy said other evidence point to the Deepwater Horizon disaster: the depth of the oil, the area it encompasses, and the distance from the Macondo well.

The study was praised by marine scientists Ed Overton, of Louisiana State University, and Ian MacDonald, of Florida State University, neither of whom were involved in its conclusions, according to AP.

Though the spill is more than four years old, scientists are still measuring - and debating - the total ecological impact of the BP spill. For now, Reddy said they believed their findings validated earlier research that found deep water coral was coated with oil and damaged from the spill.

The Deepwater Horizon explosion killed 11 people and polluted Gulf waters that wash onto the shores of five US states as oil gushed from the drilling rig for nearly three months before the flow was brought to a halt.
In all, prosecutors said over 4 million barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf, making it the largest accident of its kind in petroleum industry history. Around 16,000 miles of coastline were affected and, according to the National Park Service, over 8,000 animals died as a result.

In early September, a federal judge ruled that BP had acted with gross negligence before the spill, indicating that the corporation may have to pay billions of dollars in fines.

US District Court Judge Carl Barbier also wrote in his ruling that two other oil companies — Transocean and Halliburton — acted negligent as well, but failed to find them as responsible as BP with regards to the spill. Transocean owned the Deepwater Horizon rig, but drilling rights were leased to BP; Halliburton was in charge of the “cementing” process on the doomed drilling site.

The three companies, Barbier wrote, are "each liable under general maritime law for the blowout, explosion and oil spill," but the bulk of the blame — specifically 67 percent — will rest on BP. According to Bloomberg News, BP may next face fines as high as $18 billion — the maximum penalty under the Clean Water Act — and has already put aside $3.5 billion to cover those costs.

Despite the ruling, energy companies can count on political allies in states like Louisiana to defend their interests. For instance, in June, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law legislation that rescued dozens of oil and gas companies from a lawsuit over long-term damage done to the state’s wetlands.

Waves carry in blobs of oil as it washes ashore from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on June 26, 2010 in Orange Beach, Alabama.
(Joe Raedle / Getty Images / AFP)

The rig blew on April 20, 2010 and spewed 172 million gallons of oil into the Gulf through the summer. Scientists are still trying to figure
where all the oil went and what effects it had.

The study by David Valentine, the chief scientist on the federal damage assessment research ships, estimates that about 10 million gallons of oil coagulated on
the floor of the Gulf of Mexico around the damaged Deepwater Horizons oil rig. Valentine said the spill left other splotches containing even more oil.

New research shows that the BP oil spill left an oily "bathub ring" on the sea floor that's about the size of Rhode Island.

Experts said the law may very well thwart future claims against energy companies, including those against BP.
In a letter urging Jindal to veto the legislation, Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell wrote that the bill included “very broad and all-encompassing language” and “may have other potential serious unintended consequences."

“No one can currently quantify or identify all of the causes of action which will be swept away if this bill becomes law,” the letter warned

“In the coming years perhaps the proponents of the bill can tailor legislation more narrowly drawn which does not portend such a broad and vague attack on the abilities of the State, and most importantly, local governmental entities to protect their citizens.” - RT.

EUROPEAN VAMPIRISM AND THE WAR ON MOTHER NATURE: The BP Oil Spill - OVER A MILLION Birds Died During Deepwater Horizon Disaster!

May 08, 2014 - FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon well blowout vomited more than 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and onto its shores--the largest accidental, offshore oil spill in history. It killed wildlife, tainted fisheries, and damaged coastal ecosystems from marshes in Louisiana to beaches in Florida. But due to a paucity of data, the true extent of the damage is still not yet known, especially where bird mortality is concerned. What research does exist is confidential property of the U.S. government, and will not see the light of day until the lawsuit against BP has run its course, the next phase of which begins in 2015.

A Brown Pelican.  Rebecca Field

Into this vacuum step J. Christopher Haney, Harold Geiger, and Jeffrey Short, three researchers with extensive experience in environmental monitoring and post-spill mortality assessments. In their recent study, which has been accepted for publication in Marine Ecology Progress Series, the authors estimate that up to 800,000 coastal birds died as a direct result of the Deepwater Horizon spill. That number, as large as it is, is on the conservative side, says Audubon Director of Bird Conservation for the Gulf Coast and Mississippi Flyway, Melanie Driscoll. Once further studies are conducted, says Driscoll, the number will certainly exceed one million. In comparison, a quarter of a million birds are estimated to have died as a direct result of the Exxon Valdez, a spill that was much smaller than that of Deepwater Horizon.

The study itself uses two models to estimate coastal bird mortality. The carcass sampling model attempts to answer a seemingly simple question: for every bird corpse found during clean-up efforts, how many bird bodies were missed, due to factors such as scavenging, or the bird dying at sea, or decomposition? The other model, called the exposure probability model, attempts to quantify how many birds of each species would have encountered the oil, given the size of the slick at any given time and estimated population densities. Despite these being two very different ways to estimate bird mortality, the models agreed very closely with the possible range of bird deaths: between 600,000 and 800,000 over the 95 days of the "acute phase" of the spill. Another way to think about that: 8,000 coastal birds died every day during the acute phase.

While the numbers are sobering on their own, drilling down to individual bird species reveal population-level impacts on their numbers. According to the paper, 36 percent of the entire Laughing Gull population in the northern Gulf of Mexico died within that 95-day period. Fifteen percent of Royal Terns perished, as did 12 percent of Brown Pelicans. On Queen Bess Island, Driscoll saw an entire colony of Royal Tern chicks oiled; they all subsequently died due to oil exposure.

The suffering that Driscoll observed during the actual spill foreshadowed this devastating loss of bird life, and she says she has feared that the toll could exceed a million birds. In the paper by Haney et al., says Driscoll, the researchers went to great lengths to explain how they used data from this and other spills to make their calculations. The authors described sources for overcounting and undercounting. For example, if oiled birds tend to fly toward shore, the researchers may have overestimated the number of birds that died. But sources of undercounting are far more prevalent: During the spill, searchers only collected whole carcasses, and they did not search breeding colonies until months after the initial spill. Further, the counts missed the carcasses that were either burned or skimmed away when rescue workers removed oil from the water's surface. The researchers also chose to not count live oiled birds and they deliberately excluded entire classes of birds--marsh-dwellers such as gallinules, rails, bitterns, and some herons and egrets. More than 2,000 miles of marsh were affected by the spill, representing a large number of bird deaths which are not accounted for in the analysis.

The mortality from acute oil exposure is only a fraction of the damage that Deepwater Horizon wreaked upon the Gulf. Four years after the disaster, some 200 miles of Louisiana beach is still contaminated with oil. Studies on shrimp and dolphins have shown long-term health issues with animals exposed to oil and dispersant during the Deepwater Horizon--lowered reproductive success, chronic health problems, and starvation due to loss of food sources.

The most distressing aspect of this entire situation, says Driscoll, is that, four years later, BP is putting more energy into stonewalling than restoring the Gulf. The third phase of the lawsuit against BP for its violation of the Clean Water Act will not begin until 2015--five years after the disaster. This means that most compensatory funds to help restore the Gulf have not yet materialized. Meanwhile, BP attempts to discredit studies that show harm to Gulf resources and has started refusing to fund research to understand delayed and chronic effects on birds and other wildlife, says Driscoll. While birds and other wildlife in the Gulf struggle to recover, the government and conservation communities use early restoration money to repair damage and steward the birds, doing what they can to make sure the animals get the best chance at long-term survival. - Audubon Magazine.

MASS FISH DIE-OFF: Thousands Of Dead Fish Wash Up Mysteriously In Clermont Lagoon, Queensland, Australia?!

March 12, 2014 - AUSTRALIA - Investigations are underway into the cause of a large fish kill at a central Queensland waterway.

Photo: Stephanie Keyte

More than 1,500 fish have washed up dead at Hood's Lagoon in Clermont since yesterday morning.

Isaac council acting chief executive Scott Riley says the issue is not related to water quality problems at Dysart.

He says council workers have observed fish gasping for air.

"I think the issue we are dealing with in Clermont is more of a routine maintenance type of issue that's linked to the normal maintenance of the town's supply system, whereas in Dysart, it's been a water quality issue in terms of the defined supply via the pipeline," he said.

He says it could be linked to stormwater contamination.

"We have observed fish that have been gasping for air which indicates there may be low levels of oxygen ... in the water," he said.

"It appears that there may have been an event where low oxygen levels were caused when we installed essentially some backwashing of stormwater lines." - ABC Australia.

MASS FISH DIE-OFF: "The Fishery Doesn't Exist Anymore" - An Estimated 100,000 Trout, Bass And Catfish Mysteriously Found Dead In Nevada Marina?!

January 15, 2014 - UNITED STATES - State wildlife officials are trying to figure out why all the fish have died in a northern Nevada marina where the stocked fishery has flourished since the man-made lake was created nearly 15 years ago.

AP Photo/Andy Barron

An estimated 100,000 trout, bass and catfish have died over the past month in the Sparks Marina along U.S. Interstate 80 east of Reno, apparently the result of a dramatic, unexplained drop in dissolved oxygen levels, Nevada Department of Wildlife spokesman Chris Healy said Wednesday.

Scientists say a bitter cold snap could have caused oxygen-poor waters to rise from the old rock quarry's bottom to the surface, but they don't understand what sparked the massive die-off.

Fish biologists confirmed low oxygen levels caused the death of an estimated 3,000 fish in one corner of the lake in mid-December, but Healy said they thought at the time that the event was localized and of limited impact. Since then, they've been unable to detect any live fish in the 77-acre lake. Numerous dead fish have been removed from the lake's shoreline, and Healy said it's likely the rest sank to the bottom.

"The 100,000 dead fish figure is something that is probably a pretty conservative guess," said Healy, who estimates they've stocked close to 1 million adult fish in the lake since they started in 1998.

"We don't know if any small fish have survived, but for all intents and purposes, the fishery doesn't exist anymore," he told The Associated Press.

The Reno Gazette-Journal first reported scientists determined the problem was much more serious than they realized after a boat survey on Monday found dissolved oxygen levels far too low to support the fish at 11 different sampling locations. Readings from an electronic fish-finder also revealed no fish swimming in the lake's depths.

Lakes like the marina consist of different layers of water temperatures, with the warmest water on top holding the highest oxygen content, Healy said. He said one theory is that the surface water may have chilled very quickly, sank toward the bottom of the lake and stirred up material on its floor, causing a "violent turnover" that could have sucked up additional oxygen.

"Everything is a theory right now," Healy said.

Sparks city spokesman Adam Mayberry emphasized there's no health or safety threat at the marina. He said the water typically is of good quality and no similar problems have occurred before.

"Even with the biological anomaly we are seeing, it's still a very safe body of water," he said. "You just can't fish in the marina right now because there aren't any fish there, and we are trying to figure out why."

The Sparks Marina opened in 2000, with a 2-mile walking and bike trail, beaches, playgrounds, picnic areas and a fishing pier. The former aggregate pit operated by Helms Construction Co. had been found to be contaminated in 1988 by pollutants leaking from an adjacent tank farm, but state environmental officials said all the pollution had been cleaned up before a 1997 New Year's Day flood sent Truckee River waters into the pit.

Michael Drinkwater, manager of the Truckee Meadows Wastewater Reclamation Facility which collects water from the lake, is awaiting results of new toxicity tests conducted last week but said routine testing has revealed no problems before. He told the Gazette-Journal there's no obvious indication hydrocarbon pollution could be associated with the die-off.

Healy said testing earlier this week found dissolved oxygen levels in the range of 1.1 to 1.9 parts per million. Fish do best with levels in the range of 7 to 9 parts per million and typically can't survive when it drops below 5 parts per million, he said.

The department annually stocks the marina in late February or early March 1, but he said they won't be doing that this year unless the dissolved oxygen level "makes a big recovery." - AP.

MASS FISH DIE-OFF: Latest Reports Of Mysterious Fish Kills In China - Hundreds Of Thousands Of Fish Found Floating Dead In A Lake In Guizhou And Tens Of Thousands Of Dead Fish Found In A Pond In Qingyuan?!

August 04, 2013 - CHINA - Here are a two of the latest incidents of mass fish die-offs in China:

Hundreds Of Thousands Of Fish Found Floating Dead In A Lake In Guizhou.

Apart the lush corn leaves, along a muddy farm road ahead. Hongfeng Lake shore at a distance of less than one hundred meters upstream where stench assailed my nostrils.  "The taste is dead issue." Poke corn stalks villagers Zheng brother said pointing to the lake.  Refers to the direction along the Big Brother Cheng look at the past, hundreds of thousands of dead fish floating on the lake, the stench no match.  Reporters learned that the July 25 date, Qingzhen City, a small group of Hongfeng Zaojiaoshu Kawamura upstream lake, a large number of dead fish every day. The lake next to a factory sewage pipes, occasionally out of yellow sewage into the lake.  Site:  Hongfeng a large number of dead fish  Cheng Big Brother house through cornfields behind the house, the reporter went to find dead fish Lake District. Approximately 300 meters of this water, everywhere has swollen, smelly dead fish. As the afternoon comes, dead fish smell emitted into the nose very. Reporters rough estimate, there are hundreds of fish - can distinguish.

While Zheng brother said, two days before had been salvaged, and now these are the last two days before appearing.  40-year-old Zheng Big Brother is a small village Zaojiaoshu Qingzhen City, two groups of villagers. From the beginning grandparents, Zheng brother a Hongfeng Lake behind the house on the dependent life. "Not only is our family, which number more than a thousand Gleditsia group of villagers, are used to drink this water."  At 7:00 on July 26 too, loves fishing Zheng brother out the door as usual, you can go to a place after a few tens of meters from the lake and smell a stench.  "Dead fish everywhere on the lake, and more fundamentally untold." Big Brother Cheng said, when the lake white one, large and small layers of dead fish floating on the shore, the pungent stench of rotting fish from body to float. "Sewage pipe near mingled with dead fish and oil."  Scene in front of Big Brother Cheng Dai Li for a long time, then he realized that the emergence of a large number of dead fish, and the lake is likely to be pollution. So he dialed the hotline 12319 environmental Guiyang.  Cause of death:  Rising temperatures cause fish die?  July 27, Qingzhen City Environmental Protection Bureau sent staff came to the scene to view the site conditions and effluent sampling and testing carried out.  "They say the hot weather caused." Zheng brother said, EPA staff situation in view of the lake, said after days of high temperature water as hypoxia, a lot of fish vitality is weak, there came a collective death. "Is a normal phenomenon, does not exist in the case of water contamination." 

For this argument, the residents living in the vicinity unacceptable. They lived here for generations, also appeared before the phenomenon of sustained high temperatures, but the death phenomenon and not so serious. Moreover, in addition to the vitality of the death of the weaker fish catfish, there are in the shallow water areas of the toughest fish.  In this regard, Zheng brother along the lakeshore to explore together. He found the dead fish are mainly concentrated in the waters near their homes, and other places did not see a similar situation. Place in the event of dead fish, the water there is oil, there is a an indescribable odor.  This makes the hearts of more and more disturbed brother Cheng, this began last week, he continuous to the Guiyang Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, Qingzhen City Environmental Protection Bureau, Guiyang lakes reflect a Library Administration and other departments, hoping to thoroughly investigate the cause of dead fish.  Wonder:  Caused by sewage plant  "We feel very likely with the surrounding a ferroalloy plant related." Zheng brother said, he found a factory near the lake there is a drain, occasionally discharge of sewage into the lake.  Zheng led by Big Brother, the reporter in the lake on the left edge of a red brick wall, saw the drain. At this point drain did not drain, it can be concluded that the mark through the wall, Recently the drain had been conducted emissions.  "I think the sewage polluted lake." Big Brother Cheng said the outfall called from within the walls of an Innovative Industrial Co., Ltd. Guizhou ferroalloy production plant. "Every few days, which will drain drainage.

Discharged some yellow color of the water, and accompanied by an oil spill, with the appearance of dead fish on the lake are very similar."  It is understood that the ferroalloy plant formerly known as Guizhou ferroalloy plant, have been here for decades, has gone bankrupt years ago because the effectiveness of this year, re-production. This is the time of dead fish appeared very consistent.  Factory:  That is rainwater outlet  15:00 yesterday, the reporter found Guizhou Industrial Co., Ltd. Environmental Innovation Division is responsible for hair forever. Raised by the villagers plant sewage water caused massive death of fish saying, Mao Yong said their companies have improved pollution control measures, a variety of indicators have reached the national standard.  "The villagers had said plant sewage pipes, in fact, is our rainwater discharge pipe, not the production of sewage discharged." Mao Yong said the factory is definitely not water discharged water will not cause massive death of fish the lake.  As for the oil appeared on the lake, Mao Yong explained that he was not clear how the oil is coming. Probably in a few months ago, a car overturned in the factory, followed by a large number of oil spill situation, they had already been to the relevant departments to reflect the situation.  Later, Mao Yong also suggested that he was in a small village near the gas station and saw the yellow water flows into the lake.  Environmental Protection Department:  Publish the findings within two weeks  Yesterday afternoon, the reporter received reflect upon Guiyang lakes a library deputy director Wang Bo led law enforcement officers immediately rushed to the scene to investigate the enterprise.  "We came to the scene last Wednesday sampling." Bo said, when he led law enforcement officers arrived lakes a library saponins Shue respective Regional checked, they found a small amount of fish in the case of death.  "This is a unannounced visits."

Bo said, they were found at the scene, honey locust tree near the village of Guizhou ferroalloy plant has two drain directly at Hongfeng Lake upstream region, but the two did no drainage outlet, they sampling of the two drain some of the substances, back to investigate. "There are three indicators released, these three indicators are in line with requirements."  Order two lakes a library law enforcement officers did not expect is that the unannounced visits to the end of the two days later, they received a report Gleditsia Shue villagers, said the number of dead fish appeared in the lake. Subsequently, the law enforcement officers to check the scene again. Law enforcement officers saw outfall drainage immediately after they tested samples.  "This could be considered an unannounced visits." Bo said, they did not notify the person in charge of the case of the factory to obtain water samples. However, the responsible person rushed to the scene, but it does not want to sign in the water sampling. He said this was when he did not arrive at the scene drawn, therefore, not operands.  To ensure fairness, Guiyang lakes a library Authority law enforcement officers in front of the factory once again face the person in charge, water samples taken, then there is, and reporters came to visit inside the factory.  In the factory, the reporter learned that previously had four boilers work, currently only one at work. A worker in the factory, led by reporter saw this outfall, "Our industrial water not discharged to the lake to go inside." 

Subsequently, Bo led law enforcement officers found the factory two outfalls. After inspection, they found two outfalls really no emissions of industrial water to the lake, just discharged from the rain. However, Bo said that they will still detect these samples brought back, if you find a superscalar project, the same plant would be punished, the survey results will be released in two weeks.  Follow-up:  Why is a large area of ​​dead fish?  "We are also the cause of death to guess the fish." Bo said. A large area of ​​dead fish incident occur, they immediately contacted the Department of Fisheries Guizhou University professor to investigate.  In the sample of dead fish samples and found that all the fish are dead carp. At the same time, also found in the lakes also appeared in other fish, not all of the fish have suffered death.  "Fish and weather-related deaths may." Said the professor of Guiyang in recent days there has been cold and hot weather, this weather is extremely likely to cause death of fish hypoxia.  However, this reason is just a guess. The professor said that does not rule out the enterprise due to illegal discharges.  Will not affect the drinking water source?  Hongfeng Lake in Guiyang City, the source of drinking water, the fish will affect the collective deaths Hongfeng Lake water quality?  In this regard, Wang Bo explained, in fact, this piece of fish mass death Hongfeng Lake and the interval of a dam, the water only when the Hongfeng Lake rose to a certain extent when the two lakes will be mixed with water . 

Yesterday afternoon, the reporter came to the dam, the dam is presented across two very different scenarios. In the end the death of the fish, you can clearly see, the water is showing green tea with sewage quality. While the other end, which is the source of drinking water Guiyang show is green, very bright and clean.  "Unless the next heavy rain, two lakes water to mix." Bo told reporters, pointing across the dam, and hence does not affect the Hongfeng Lake water quality.  Sewerage companies have standards?  In Hongfeng Lake in Guizhou ferroalloy plant next to the sewage facilities whether it is a standard?  "He still has some irregularities." After checking, lakes a library Authority law enforcement officers said, "They should not have contingency pool is filled with water, but now fitted with water."  Meanwhile, the staff also told reporters that the emergency pool area is too small, can not put on too much water. In addition, many factory production materials placed directly on the ground, these production materials directly eroded by rain, and then routed through stormwater outfall lake.  "There are many places to rectification." Bo said they will urge the rectification of the factory as soon as possible, while also on the plant's sewage facilities for acceptance. - Shuichan.  [Translated]

Tens Of Thousands Of Dead Fish Found In A Pond In Qingyuan.

Recently, the reporter received a tip lines, said Pioneer Road and Shuguang Road, is located at the junction of the East Gate hordes of dead fish floating above the pond, the stench from time to time, the surrounding residents and tourists have a negative impact, I hope the relevant personnel in a timely manner clean up these dead fish, but also passers-by a comfortable environment. Reporter heard the news rushed to the scene from afar, across the edge of the East Gate pond water were little glowing white light. Closer inspection, a large number of floating on the East Gate of the pond, it is already dead tilapia, these fish probably palm, some waving white belly. Affected by dead fish, floating on the pond floor Gate yellowish oil, not when bubbles emerge. Breeze out of the stench will be filled to around passers partly out of curiosity, could not stop watching, but most of the passers-by or conceal odor, their noses and brisk walking.

An anonymous passers introduced, these dead fish are only appeared two days, is said to be the masters of ponds do not want to raise tilapia, so its own poison, but some passers-by this argument to be negative, that fish are being deliberately poisoned. "Although tilapia expensive, but so many fish, if to get the market to sell, but also a substantial amount of revenue, the owner can not be looked at the money they do not." This band is the administrative and cultural center of Qingyuan city, surrounded by shopping malls, cinemas, parks, hotels, etc., every day after passers flocked so smelly Who can?" For the cause of a large area of ​​dead fish have different opinions, but the road per capita expressed the same wish: I hope the staff can give this attention, timely salvage these dead fish, but also the surrounding residents and visitors a comfortable environment. - Shuichan.  [Translated]

BP OIL SPILL DISASTER: Mutated And Deformed Gulf Coast Fish Species - Health Defects Found In Fish Exposed To Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Three Years Later!

May 04, 2013 - GULF OF MEXICO - Crude oil toxicity continued to sicken a sentinel Gulf Coast fish species for at least more than a year after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, according to new findings from a research team that includes a University of California, Davis, scientist. With researchers from Louisiana and South Carolina, the scientists found that Gulf killifish embryos exposed to sediments from oiled locations in 2010 and 2011 show developmental abnormalities, including heart defects, delayed hatching and reduced hatching success. The killifish is an environmental indicator species, or a "canary in the coal mine," used to predict broader exposures and health risks.

Gulf killifish embryos exposed to sediments from oiled locations show developmental abnormalities, including heart defects, delayed hatching and reduced hatching success.© Benjamin Dubansky

The findings, posted online in advance of publication in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, are part of an ongoing collaborative effort to track the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Gulf killifish populations in areas of Louisiana that received heavy amounts of oil.

Other species that share similar habitats with the Gulf killifish, such as redfish, speckled trout, flounder, blue crabs, shrimp and oysters -- may be at risk of similar effects.

"These effects are characteristic of crude oil toxicity," said co-author Andrew Whitehead, an assistant professor of environmental toxicology at UC Davis. "It's important that we observe it in the context of the Deepwater Horizon spill because it tells us it is far too early to say the effects of the oil spill are known and inconsequential. By definition, effects on reproduction and development -- effects that could impact populations -- can take time to emerge."

Killifish are abundant in the coastal marsh habitats along the Gulf Coast. Though not fished commercially, they are an important forage fish and a key member of the ecological community. Because they are nonmigratory, measurements of their health are indicative of their local environment, making them an ideal subject for study.

The researchers collected Gulf killifish from an oiled site at Isle Grande Terre, La., and monitored them for measures of exposure to crude oil. They also exposed killifish embryos in the lab to sediment collected from oiled sites at Isle Grande Terre within Barataria Bay in Louisiana.

"Our findings indicate that the developmental success of these fish in the field may be compromised," said lead author Benjamin Dubansky, who recently earned his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University.

Whitehead said the report's findings may predict longer-term impacts to killifish populations. However, oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill showed up in patches, rather than coating the coastline. That means some killifish could have been hit hard by the spill while others were less impacted.

Whitehead said it is possible that some of the healthier, less impacted killifish could buffer the effects of the spill for the population as a whole.

The research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative and the National Institutes of Health.

The other researchers in the study are Fernando Galvez, associate professor of biological sciences at Louisiana State University; and Charles D. Rice, professor of biological sciences at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. The researchers have tracked the impact of the oil on killifish since the Deepwater Horizon spill occurred in April 2010. - Science Daily.

MASS FISH DIE-OFF: Disaster Precursors - Another Fish Kill On Adelaide's Beaches In Australia?!

March 29, 2013 - AUSTRALIA - MORE dead fish have washed up on Adelaide's southern beaches overnight.

Dead fish on Seaford beach . Picture: Roger Wyman Source: adelaidenow

The fish washed up at Seaford and Biosecurity SA is an attendance to collect fish for forensic testing.

It follows a similar incident last week when thousands of dead fish were found across long stretches of sand at Moana, Moana South, O'Sullivans Beach and Christies Beach.

Biosecurity SA aquatic pests manager Vic Neverauskas said high levels of algal bloom from hot weather had depleted oxygen levels in the water.

Dead fish on Seaford beach . Picture: Roger Wyman.

Dead fish on Seaford beach . Picture: Roger Wyman.

Dead fish on Seaford beach . Picture: Roger Wyman.

Mr Neverauskas said the incident was linked to the dead fish that washed up on Eyre Peninsula this month, with strong westerly winds blowing the algal bloom back towards Adelaide.

"The best information suggests we are dealing with extensive algal bloom from hot weather," he said.

He said the desalination plant had nothing to do with the fish deaths. - Adelaide Now.

MASS FISH DIE-OFF: 10 Kilometres Of The Srepok River Covered By Dead Fish!

January 30, 2013 - VIETNAM - A section of 10km of the Srepok River in the Central Highlands is now covered by dead fish of various species like carp, catfish, red tail hemibargus, etc.

The waste water discharged to the Srepok River from the Tam Thang industrial park.

The area where dead fish appeared runs from Hoa Xuan commune, Buon Ma Thuot city of Dak Lak province to Ea Po commune of Cu Jut district in Dak Nong province.

Dead fish began floating on the river surface on the night of January 27.

Mr. Le Tien Cuong, from Ea Po commune, Cu Jut district, Dak Nong province, said while rowing his boat in the river at 10.30pm of January 27, he looked down and saw a lot of fish gasping and floating to the surface.

Some households also said they detected the dead fish on the river because of the foul smell.

The area which has dead fish is very close to the Tam Thang Industrial Park in Cu Jut district. This industrial park has discharged waste water to the river for a long time.

After detecting the dead fish, local people who live along the river have used small boats to salvage the fish. Many people collected up to 100 - 120kg of fish of all kinds in the morning of January 28. - Vietnam Net.

MASS FISH DIE-OFF: Fish Kill Found Along Huangpu River In Shanghai, China!

January 30, 2013 - CHINA - Yangcheng Evening News reporter Lin Yuan, Tang Bo reports: the sizes of the fish belly overturned, slowly floating down the river, the sanitation workers more than an hour, they picked up a laundry list full of dead fish. 26, who lives in the neighborhood of the Guangzhou Huangpu East to reporters, said Wu Chung River, next to the district government two days countless dead fish, the suspect is due to the sewage upstream factories. The reporter then contacted the relevant departments, its reply, said that no abnormal sample analysis results, initially speculated that hypoxia led to a dead fish. 

On the morning of the 25th, who lives in Huangpu District, the public, Mr Yuen, Wu Chung River, next to the district government, with a lot of dead fish floating. Early in the morning the next day, Mr. Ruan again check it out, still see the dead fish, and the river is also divided into clearly divided the black and yellow colors. Tide until after 9:00, the color of the river before slowly getting absorbed.  Mr. Ruan feel deplore, Wu Chung River once as the Asian Games and the highlight of the project in Huangpu District, years spent heavily governance. Past two years, a lot of good water quality. "Mr. Ruan guess, may be related to the river upstream of factory sewage related upstream automobile plants, smelters, do not know is not where the discharge of sewage, Wu Chung River, one is also attached to the Pearl! "  The public Mr. Zhu also often to the Wu Chung riverside walks, he said: "dead fish three to four centimeters!"  On the morning of the 26th, the reporter visited this Wu Chung River.

Look down the bridges in the east of the Huangpu District government, just a few short minutes, through the underpass of dead fish have a dozen. The river a few hundred meters away, can see dead fish floating in the river less than hundreds. On the river are still "live on" some fish mouths Minato breathing in the river. Floating similar to "grease" the large material, exudes the smell.  14:00, the reporter revisit Wu Chung River. Being on the river for fish sanitation workers revealed that, after more than an hour of work, he has been fishing for a laundry list full of dead fish, these fish are just dead, not smelly it! "  Why is the river of rectification volume pollution over again "? The reporters consulted the Huangpu District Party Propaganda Department is responsible for relaying the findings of the District Environmental Protection Bureau. Reply said they received a report early in the afternoon of the 25th, and then went to the scene investigation. "The environmental monitoring Brigade and environment monitoring station staff to the Wu Chung scene, found Wu Chung River in the dry season, a small amount of dead fish in the river bank. Investigation along the banks of the river, no enterprise direct discharge of sewage creek, sampling and analysis results as abnormal."  They explained that the "dead fish for an unknown reason, the initial guess is because reduced dry season water, low oxygen levels in the water, hypoxia led to dead fish." - QQ News [Translated].

THE WAR ON THE EARTH: Huge Slick At Site Of BP Oil Disaster In The Gulf Of Mexico - Visible Rainbow Sheen And Weathered Oil Not Seen For Months!

January 29, 2013 - GULF OF MEXICO - Today we had a wonderful treat. Our hard-working colleague and Gulf heroine Trisha James and her husband Mark joined us for a flight over the Gulf! On our way southward, we took a little extra time to check out some spots of concern along the Mississippi River, thanks to an alert from Scott Eustis of the Gulf Restoration Network. So in addition to what we can show you about offshore Louisiana today, you'll see some photos of two large coal terminals along the east bank of the Mississippi, as well as a new pass that the river is building in Bohemia, downriver of where the levee ends. You'll also see a dramatic wetlands fire that surprised us on our return back.

Unfortunately there are still some troubling sites offshore.  The chronic Taylor Energy slick remains a heinous pollution situation, and today's quiet seas revealed that slick to be larger in size than it has looked to us before.  What looks to be a natural seep about 10 miles southwest of the Macondo area, which we discovered last week, remains as it looked last week. 

But the most troubling vision today was the Macondo area itself.  The slick that we had first noticed last fall, which was spreading over the area within a half-mile or so of the scene of the Deepwater Horizon explosion, was huge today. It stretched over 7 nautical miles in the south-north direction and was almost a mile wide in some spots. There were some patches of rainbow sheen and even some weathered oil (brownish "mousse"), although overall it remained a light surface sheen.  The ENSCO8502 drilling rig is still working in MC253 there; its presence provides scale in the photos. See all the photos HERE.

The two large coal piles we examined are the Kinder Morgan International Marine Terminal and United Bulk Coal Terminal.  We are told that there are plans to expand these coal (and pet coke) terminals by nearly 400%, into Plaquemines Parish. Such coal terminals have been stopped in other parts of the country such as the northwest, for environmental protection reasons. Is this a case of Louisiana being willing to sacrifice and take risks that other more cautious states have refused? - OWOC.

WATCH: OWOC Flyover of Gulf of Mexico.

MASS FISH DIE-OFF: Thousands Of Dead Fish Found Near The Jatiluhur Dam In West Java, Indonesia!

January 21, 2013 - INDONESIA - Thousands of dead fish float belly-up in the Jatiluhur Reservoir in Purwakarta, West Java, on Thursday. A change of current and temperature in the reservoir is thought to have reduced the oxygen level in the water, killing thousands of fish. - The Jakarta Post.

A fisherman looks at dead fish floating near the Jatiluhur dam at Purwakarta, West Java. (Photo:AP).

Thousands of tons of dead fish were found following torrential rains around the area. (Photo:AP).

MASS FISH DIE-OFF: Abnormal Fish Mortality Events in China - Hundreds of Thousands of Dead Fish Found in Four Different Areas?!

December 16, 2012 - CHINA - "Seeing so many fish has no overnight, I do not know what to do. "Man achish in East Lake Village, lingshan town, pottery village in meilan district of Haikou has contracted several pond fish, December 10 shortly after 7 o'clock in the morning, he wakes to see fish ponds and found that, overnight, himself strenuously 8,200 grouper are all dead.

Tens Of Thousands Of Fish Found Dead In Haikou Lake.

According to reports, the achish trusted friends to lend more than 1 million Yuan last year, contracted for pond fish. This fish for over a year, has and traders 11th to buy an appointment. The night before the incident, he patrols the pond edge to home until 11 o'clock at night, when fish are good. Did not expect overnight, the fish all died, everything became a bubble in water, "a conservative estimate the loss more than 700,000 yuan. "Achish said sadly, this fish maximum 3 kg of 92, on average every two and a half pounds of fish, a total of 8,200 fish, more than 20,000 pounds, all gone. Looked at has been cleared of dead fish, achish heartache, "not all the fish stomach, it was too hard. "It is reported that after the incident, achish alert the local police station. It is understood that the incident occurred 20 days ago, achish contracted by another more than 30,000 pieces of fish in a pond in deaths overnight. Achish said, generally ten days and a half months, fish insect, need some medicine to pest control. After more than 30,000 pieces of fish for the first time, achish thought it was the fish master take the wrong drug, also called a master. Master fish, raise fish in a dozen years and have never come across such a situation, even if it is more than three times the amount of fish you can't all die. Because the first dead fish are smaller, so dead over more than 30,000 fish, achish had lost at least 350,000 yuan. According to preliminary estimates, the two add up to achish had lost more than 1 million Yuan. - People China [Translated].

Large Fish Kill Found In A River In Shahe City.

According to eyewitness accounts, the fish's small finger-like weight, there are three or four pounds. Estimation of Shahe office cleaning day sailor, salvaging of dead fish has nearly three days pounds. Wuyi University see Shahe journalists 10th day, the River is dark green, there are still sporadic dead fish scattered on the River, shore water floats, a layer of oil. Approached the River, a fish stench blowing, two cleaning vessels are salvaging of dead fish. Reporters along the rivers in Jiangmen direction Wuyi University section going, found no sewage outfall discharges across the Taiwan Strait, in which large outfall outfall Wuyi University canteens have also used iron CAP to seal up. For all of a sudden there were so many fish were killed, public speculation that someone may steal a sewage. This reporter learned that, after the dead fish incident, Jiangmen City Environmental Protection Department immediately started emergency plan, organized law enforcement and environmental monitoring environmental monitoring personnel to the scene for investigation and water quality monitoring. The site survey, found Shahe road section between bridge and white gas stations are dead fish behavior occurs to varying degrees.

In this regard, the Organization immediately environmental protection departments on the one hand to troubleshoot the day sand river coastal outfalls, Shahe River in the urban areas has been basically pollution-cutting, only a limited number of outfalls vertical sand River through days of troubleshooting, found no illegal sewage of industrial enterprises. On the, in died fish phenomenon more clear of river set multiple section for water monitoring, December 7 of monitoring results indicates that, river water except dissolved oxygen indicators partial low outside, other pollutants indicators and always compared to and no exception; near two day of monitoring results indicates that, as temperatures of rebounded, river water dissolved oxygen indicators has gradually recovery to normal level, River sense views also has been comparison clear. At the same time, marine fisheries sector in Jiangmen city quickly investigate after receiving the report, organized the resources and Environment Management Division, fisheries technician, fishery law enforcement and inspection personnel to conduct on-site investigations. According to the Bureau's law enforcement personnel on-site observations, dead fish species dominated by DACE, and most of the smaller. According to EPA and Marine Fisheries Council two large sector investigation results displayed, "by extraction water, and died fish samples for test detection, found except river water dissolved oxygen partial low outside, remaining is not found detection indicators has exception situation, preliminary judgment is due to by continued low temperature rainy weather (more than 10 days) effect, while days Shahe and is dry season, water in the dissolved oxygen partial low, led to as DACE, and tilapia, does not cold varieties of fish hypoxia death. ” - Information Times [Translated].

Over 350,000 Pounds Of Fish Died In Long Lake.

Area of dead fish in the Lake area, causing huge economic losses to local fishermen. According to the local Government's latest figures show that the fish killed more than 350,000 pounds, including deaths peak in October 3, 7th night of dead fish began to gradually reduce. It is understood that the dead fish later, local government and related departments have taken emergency measures management, organizing manpower to emergency disinfection of fishing and bury the dead fish. Xiaolu is a journalist in the area ran into a bit of downstream fishermen. He is new to cage, cage culture of less than two years. Xiaolu describes his cage in the fen village section of the hole in the lower area, built dams built power stations here. The Wengjiang River and other tributaries converge here, formed a huge Lake. Therefore, this time he farmed fish were not spared, more losses than upstream. "Throughout the vast expanse of the Lake and a stinker, is simply horrible. "Little land so describes the horrors of dead fish peak at that time. "No dead fish, more or less, I probably nearly 6,000 pounds of fish in cages. My losses are relatively small, losses more serious cases than me! Hey, just my luck, it lost two years...... "battered small land face down, he stood in the bow looking confused water, his eyes are filled with confusion. "Now I don't know what should I do in the future, this fish can continue to do? I now have no confidence. But the fish we can do? "Very predicament inside Xiaolu told Xinhua that his father is a fisherman, culture before earning a bit of money, so they expand cage culture of investment in the area, he was responsible for management. A sudden hit Xiaolu negate efforts of father and son, but also completely destroy their confidence.

It is understood that, in recent years, the rapid development of cage culture in the long Lake area, cage size and significant increase in the number and capacity in cages in the reservoir area is almost at saturation. According to the latest statistics from the local government data show, current cage culture in reservoirs there is approximately 180 households, more than 6,000 cage, deposit box fish probably around 4.5 million pounds. Xiaolu same part and many farmers, are shouted to the cage to make money and have acceded to or expansion of investment. Cage culture of sprawl and blindness makes area significantly increased risk. Yingde city animal husbandry and aquatic products Bureau told Xinhua, cage was farmers in the reservoir area of spontaneous, is difficult to control and master in number, only moderate to boot. However, the large area of abnormal fish mortality events, fishermen's losses are not just the fish in the cage, but also for many years has been adhere to breed confidence. - Shuichan [Translated].

Large Fish Kill Found In A River In Lanxi.

Nanlang Town Environmental Protection Department's survey results showed that the water turns red because of, Memorial Secondary School Department of the General staff selection paste test effluent piping when there is a leak caused by negligence; and fish deaths are, tropical tilapia a few days ago encountered temperatures plus resident electric shock caused by fishing. Environmental Protection Department: Red water has nothing to do with industrial pollution Nam long environmental protection departments and two Memorial secondary school yesterday to journalists writing "report". Among them, Nam long Environmental Protection Department reports show that about 4:30 P.M. after the water pollution incident of the day, they received a report, three environmental law enforcement officers immediately rushed to the scene to look into the sample. Although pollution have passed almost half a day, however, contaminated water is still slightly red. Three law enforcement officers to split up to investigate, and soon they learn that red pollutants are discharged sewage outfall pipeline from Memorial middle school. Source identified, they instantly communicate with schools, require schools to internal investigation, after school Department of the General Survey, determine Red source of pollutants in Memorial secondary school, red has nothing to do with industrial pollution in the upper reaches of the River. - ZS News [Translated].

DISASTER IMPACT: BP Oil Spill - Dispersant Makes Oil From Spills 52 Times More Toxic!

November 30, 2012 - GULF OF MEXICO - For microscopic animals living in the Gulf of Mexico, even worse than the toxic oil released during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster may be the very oil dispersants used to clean it up, a new study finds. More than 2 million gallons (7.5 million liters) of oil dispersants called Corexit 9527A and 9500A were dumped into the gulf in an effort to prevent oil from reaching shore and to help it degrade more quickly. However, when oil and Corexit are combined, the mixture becomes up to 52 times more toxic than oil alone, according to a study published online this week in the journal Environmental Pollution. "There is a synergistic interaction between crude oil and the dispersant that makes it more toxic," said Terry Snell, a study co-author and biologist at Georgia Tech. Using dispersants breaks up the oil into small droplets and makes it less visible, but, "on the other hand, makes it more toxic to the planktonic food chain," Snell told LiveScience.

This photograph shows windrows of emulsified oil (bright orange) sprayed with dispersant.
The photo was taken on April 26, 2010 as part of an aerial observation overflight.

Toxic mixture
That mixture of dispersant and oil in the gulf would've wreaked havoc on rotifers, which form the base of the marine food web, and their eggs in seafloor sediments, Snell said. In the study, Snell and colleagues tested ratios of oil and dispersant found in the gulf in 2010, using actual oil from the well that leaked in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the dispersant. The mixture was similarly toxic at the various ratios tested, the study found. His group exposed several varieties of rotifers to concentrations of the oil-dispersant mixture likely seen over a large area of the gulf. "The levels in the gulf were toxic, and seriously toxic," Snell said. "That probably put a big dent in the planktonic food web for some extended period of time, but nobody really made the measurements to figure out the impact." The dispersant makes the oil more deadly by decreasing the size of the droplets, making it more "bio-available" to small organisms, said Ian MacDonald, a researcher at Florida State University. "The effect is specifically a toxic synergy — the sum is worse than the parts," said MacDonald, who was not involved in the research. 

A cautionary tale
This is one of the first studies to look at the impact of the oil-dispersant mixture on plankton. A decline in populations of plankton could impact larger animals all the way up to whales, he said. In general, plankton can rebound quickly, although the toxicity to larvae in sediments is concerning, since it reduces the size of the next generation. This ocean-bottom oil slurry could also have impacted other species that spend part of their life cycles here like algae and crustaceans. "This is an important study that adds badly needed data to help us better understand the effects of oil spills and oil spill remediation strategies, such as the use of dispersants," said Stephen Klaine, an environmental toxicologist at Clemson University who wasn't involved in the research. "Species' differences in the sensitivity to any toxic compounds, including the ones in this discussion, can be huge." The results contrast with those released by the Environmental Protection Agency in August 2010. That study found that a mixture of oil and Corexit isn't more toxic than oil alone to both a species of shrimp and species of fish. However, several studies have found the mixture is more toxic than oil to the embryos of several fish species. The EPA could not immediately be reached for comment. "To date, EPA has done nothing but congratulate itself on how Corexit was used and avow they would do it the same way again," MacDonald said. However, Snell said the dispersant should not be used. It would be better to let the oil disperse on its own to minimize ecological damage, he said. "This is a cautionary tale that we need to do the science before the emergency happens so we can make decisions that are fully informed," Snell said. "In this case, the Corexit is simply there to make the oil disperse and go out of sight. But out of sight doesn't mean it's safe in regard to the food web. It's hard to sit by and not do something," Snell said. "But in this case, doing something actually made it more toxic." - MSNBC.

MASS MAMMAL DIE-OFF: Mystery Surrounds Death of 877 Dolphins Washed Ashore in Peru?!

Environmental authorities are investigating the deaths of more than 800 dolphins that have washed up on the northern coast of Peru this year.

Experts measure a dead dolphin on the northern coast of Peru, some 750 km north of Lima, on April 11.

The dolphins may have died from an outbreak of Morbillivirus or Brucella bacteria, said Peruvian Deputy Environment Minister Gabriel Quijandria, according to Peru's state-run Andina news agency.  Quijandria said Thursday that 877 dolphins have washed up in a 220-kilometer (137-mile) area from Punta Aguja to Lambayeque, in the north of the country.  More than 80% of those dolphins were found in an advanced state of decomposition, making it difficult to study their deaths, according to Andina.  Earlier last week, the Peruvian government put together a panel from different ministries to analyze a report by the Peruvian Sea Institute (IMARPE). 

Officials have been able to conclude that the dolphins' deaths were not due to lack of food, interaction with fisheries, poisoning with pesticides, biotoxin poisoning or contamination by heavy metals.  The results of a histopathological analysis -- which would indicate possible contamination by a virus -- are expected to be ready in the coming days.  The dolphin deaths in Peru are just the latest in a worldwide trend.  In February, 179 dolphins --108 of which were dead -- washed ashore in Cape Cod, in eastern United States, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Marine biologists are still trying to determine the cause of those deaths.  In early March, amateur video taken from a beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, showed more than 30 dolphins on shore. In that instance, all dolphins were safely returned to the sea. - CNN.

BP OIL SPILL DISASTER: Mutated and Deformed Sea Life - Shrimp Without Eyes, Crabs Without Claws,...?!

Al Jazeera just published a thoroughly disturbing report on the deformed fish and shellfish that are being pulled from the Gulf in the wake of the BP oil spill. Shrimp without eyes or even eye sockets, snapper with large pink growths, undersized and misshapen crabs--the fishermen in the Gulf that Al Jazeera talked to have never seen anything like it.

Deformed Gulf Shrimps On the left is a Gulf shrimp with growths, while on the
right are a group of shrimps without either eyes or eye sockets

An excerpt from the report:

Darla Rooks, a lifelong fisherperson from Port Sulfur, Louisiana, told Al Jazeera she is finding crabs "with holes in their shells, shells with all the points burned off so all the spikes on their shells and claws are gone, misshapen shells, and crabs that are dying from within … they are still alive, but you open them up and they smell like they've been dead for a week".  Rooks is also finding eyeless shrimp, shrimp with abnormal growths, female shrimp with their babies still attached to them, and shrimp with oiled gills. 

"We also seeing eyeless fish, and fish lacking even eye-sockets, and fish with lesions, fish without covers over their gills, and others with large pink masses hanging off their eyes and gills." It's not incredibly surprising to see deformities in the wake of the oil spill--we knew (and know) very little about dispersants in general and about Corexit, the dispersant used by BP, in particular. A nonprofit environmental law firm called Earthjustice actually had to sue to obtain the precise formula of the material, and even then, that group claims that there is nowhere near enough data to know what effects the dispersant will have on the Gulf.

According to Earthjustice's review, at least 13 of the 57 chemicals in Corexit are suspected or known to be toxic to aquatic life. Phosphorus, for example, may have helped microbes readily break down the oil, but phosphorus also happens to be toxic to fish. What's not clear is what's actually causing these deformities--is it the oil, the dispersant, or both?  We do know, disturbingly, that the oil entered the food chain. That may be part of the problem here--shrimp and crabs are bottom-feeders, and snapper, according to Wikipedia, also commonly feast on crustaceans like sea lice and crabs (though not shrimp). Check out Al Jazeera for more. - POPSCI.

WATCH: Al Jazeera discusses the BP oil spill, the mutations and the repercussions for the Gulf.