GasBuddy News Article

votes

Microbes munch oil, haven't robbed Gulf of oxygen

Associated Press -- WASHINGTON – Federal scientists are reporting the best possible scenario for BP's leaked oil: Microbes are munching the underwater oil, but not robbing the Gulf of Mexico of much needed oxygen or creating so-called "dead zones."

Oxygen levels in some places where the BP oil spilled are down by 20 percent, but that's not nearly low enough to create the dead zones where fish can't live, according to a 95-page report released Tuesday.

Trying to disperse the oil underwater is like walking a tightrope. In an unusual move, BP released 771,000 gallons of chemical dispersant at the leaking well head, about a mile deep, instead of just on the water surface to break up the oil into tiny droplets.

That makes it easier for the oil-eating microbes to do their job, but in doing so they deplete

Read the Full Article

Submitted Sep 07, 2010 By: suportoffroad30

Back To News

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics

Author	Topic: Microbes munch oil, haven't robbed Gulf of oxygen	Post a Reply Back to Topics

REPLIES (newest first)

gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:2,307 Points:961,555 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 6:55:01 PM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse Sometimes the truth hurts. Big bad BP's badness is not proportional to the evil it puts on the enviornment. In fact, their badness is not the issue. We need to know truth so we can respond properly and not waste a lot of money abating a problem that isn't there. The oxygen levels are very critical in determining how much oil is where and how much damage it may do to fish and other critter in the sea.
us412 Champion Author Arkansas Posts:18,311 Points:1,957,440 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 6:46:16 PM Ignore us412 Report Abuse This article is so upbeat you have to wonder if maybe the AP is owned by BP.
Luckylindy Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:2,156 Points:669,120 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 7:54:46 AM Ignore Luckylindy Report Abuse Lies, all lies. The gulf is full of oil and there are dead spots all over place. Trust me the press will tell you that.
torn8owx Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:2,313 Points:577,515 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 7:40:54 AM Ignore torn8owx Report Abuse Considering hydrocarbons leak naturally into the Gulf waters & have been doing so for millions of years, a new microbe isn't a surprise. The question is what are the effects of toxicity on the marine ecosystem before the microbes can reduce the oil to a level that won't be harmful
BMW2014 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,794 Points:364,300 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 6:41:40 AM Ignore BMW2014 Report Abuse This statement is issued by federal scientists! How about independent scientists what is their opinion? What are they saying?
BBopp Champion Author Dayton Posts:5,044 Points:1,596,975 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 5:59:29 AM Ignore BBopp Report Abuse The crux of the article is that we have no idea what the long term effects will be! We're robbing Peter to pay Paul. It's a "quick" fix that will have a long term unknown impact.
coughlin Champion Author San Jose Posts:3,341 Points:756,125 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 2:28:18 AM Ignore coughlin Report Abuse Boy, I'll tell ya ... when I hear things about oil-eating microbes, my first feeling, my initial 'sense' is, "We shouldn't be screwing around with these things, putting them where the oil is and placing (dumping) billions and billions of them ANYWHERE. Sometimes 'Unintended Consequences' occur. Maybe it's what I was exposed to when I was a kid .... and what THAT was, was a LOT of 'Twilight Zone's'. Mr. Rod Serling had LOTS to comment on. Unintended Consequences: Probably the easiest example is currently in Afghanistan. Where a VERY large portion of the Taliban's weapons came from, 25 + years ago, was those weapons being given to Afghans by the U.S of A., through the CIA. Back then, the Afghans were fighting the foreign invading Soviets ... and we, the U.S., tried to 'even up the odds' a little bit and supplied the Afghans with lots and lots of assault weapons and rocket propelled grenade launchers and (THE BIGGY) Stinger Missiles. I just hope that we don't have to (some day) ask ourselves where all these GASOLINE EATING BUGS came from.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:4,716 Points:982,400 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 1:45:39 AM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Considering the amount of oil that was put into the Gulf, it may take decades (if not centuries) for these microbes to take all the oil out.
Ltdc Champion Author Long Island Posts:4,913 Points:1,224,515 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 1:41:01 AM Ignore Ltdc Report Abuse Marine life will have the final word on this issue.
POLELANE Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,148 Points:828,370 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 1:18:02 AM Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse So much Hydrocarbons come down the Ohio and Mississippi to the BULF from PA and OH and KY etc; there must always be oil flowing into the Gulf from far away.
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:3,659 Points:816,925 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 12:18:35 AM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse It's what you can't see that worries me. I hope the microbes eat the dispersant's too.
kag2010 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:2,894 Points:561,410 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 12:02:42 AM Ignore kag2010 Report Abuse My bet is you will survive.
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,628 Points:739,645 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:05:54 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Nicoalbum, You posted, "I'm not worried much about oxygen, but about oil." Personally I believe your priorities are wrong. If you doubt me please try to stop going without oxygen for 7 minutes. If you do that you will be brain dead, but your body may still be functioning. Now consider, can you go without oil for a day or two (or more)? My bet is you will survive. Try it sometime!!! [Edited by: MidNJ at 9/7/2010 9:06:42 PM EST]
graceman Champion Author Baltimore Posts:3,235 Points:820,115 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:47:17 PM Ignore graceman Report Abuse Very good news!
playtimeCLE Champion Author Cleveland Posts:5,906 Points:1,092,475 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:14:29 PM Ignore playtimeCLE Report Abuse Mother Nature can & will clean this up faster then anyone else can. So we might as well let her work.
jwitt79 Rookie Author Seattle Posts:38 Points:351,705 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 7:27:45 PM Ignore jwitt79 Report Abuse Forever
jwitt79 Rookie Author Seattle Posts:38 Points:351,705 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 7:27:33 PM Ignore jwitt79 Report Abuse BP should never again make a profit. The gulf should get all the money
jwitt79 Rookie Author Seattle Posts:38 Points:351,705 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 7:26:46 PM Ignore jwitt79 Report Abuse Ya probably cause they poop oxygen.
suportoffroad00 All-Star Author Wisconsin Posts:767 Points:908,750 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 6:55:15 PM Ignore suportoffroad00 Report Abuse I wonder about the food supply if it will be tainted by the oil and how much it will cost to feed people with food from the oceans that are not contaminated.
Nicoalbum Champion Author Ottawa Posts:3,586 Points:724,310 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 6:06:43 PM Ignore Nicoalbum Report Abuse I'm not worried much about oxygen, but about oil.