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IMAGE: One of the Red Snapper sampled as part of this Gulf-wide study in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. view more
Credit: University of South Florida
Nearly 100 percent of the red snapper sampled in the Gulf of Mexico over a six-year period by University of South Florida (USF) marine scientists showed evidence of liver damage, according to a study reported in
Aquatic Toxicology.
The study is the first to correlate the concentration of crude oil found in the workhorses of the digestive system the liver, gall bladder, and bile - with microscopic indicators of disease, such as inflammation, degenerative lesions, and the presence of parasites. The team sampled nearly 570 fish from 72 Gulf locations between 2011 to 2017 in the wake of the historic 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Red Snapper in Gulf show signs of stress miragenews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from miragenews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Scientists Find Oil From Deepwater Horizon Blowout on Ocean Floor 06/01/2021
Researchers use Atlantic mackerel for bait on long-lining fishing sampling expeditions in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo: C-IMAGE Consortium, CC BY-ND
Over the decade since the Deepwater Horizon spill, thousands of scientists have analyzed its impact on the Gulf of Mexico. The spill affected many different parts of the Gulf, from coastal marshes to the deep sea.
At the Center for Integrated Modeling and Analysis of the Gulf Ecosystem, or C-IMAGE at the University of South Florida, marine scientists have been analyzing these effects since 2011. C-IMAGE has received funding from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative – a broad, independent research programme initially funded by a US$500 million grant from BP, the company held principally responsible for the spill.