Dolphin Un-Safe

BP Continues to Harm Marine Life

Environment – New studies into the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill suggest that the damage done to dolphins and other marine life may be higher than initially predicted.

The report, commissioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) studied 32 dolphins, many of which were “underweight, anemic and suffering from lung and liver disease.” Further, roughly half of the dolphins had “low levels of a hormone that helps the mammals deal with stress as well as regulating their metabolism and immune systems.”

Zooplankton studied was found to be contaminated oil. As these organisms compromise the the lowest level of the marine food chain, it is unlikely that any species in the area will escape unaffected by the oil spill that is still the subject of significant “legal wrangling” between the U.S. and BP.

Not that I have anything near a science background, but I can’t say I’m surprised that these animals are as fucked messed up as they are, what with the 200 million gallons of toxins spilled into their environment.

Read more at the Guardian.