Episode 304: After the Spill
The catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 may no longer make headline news, but the story is far from over. Oceanographers continue to study the long-term effects this disaster might have on marine ecosystems. Among them are the scientists from the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida, who have been studying the impacts of this spill from the beginning. Experts are analyzing water and sediment samples for hydrocarbon presence and toxicity and are studying the long-term effects the spill might have on a number of marine species. What impacts will low-level, chronic toxicity from oil and dispersants have on the environment? How long until the true extent of this disaster will be known?