Oops! Deepwater Horizon Dispersants Backfired

[Judi Lynn]

Oops! Deepwater Horizon Dispersants Backfired

They were supposed to help microbes digest oil, but ended up suppressing the oil-degrading species instead.

Reuters
Ed Yong
| 3:00 PM ET

On 20 April, 2010, an explosion tore through Deepwater Horizon, an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Over the next three months, the exposed wellhead released some 750 million liters of oil into the Gulf.

To cope with the record-breaking volumes of oil, authorities decided to dump 7 million liters of a dispersant called Corexit into the Gulf. This substance would break the oil slick into smaller clumps, preventing it from washing onto beaches, or clogging the fur and feathers of coastal wildlife. The smaller particles would also be easier fodder for oil-digesting microbes, which have evolved to break down hydrocarbons that naturally seep from oceanic vents.

But a new study by Samantha Joye at the University of Georgia shows that, at least in terms of the latter goal, the dispersants failed miserably.

By simulating the Deepwater spill in their laboratory, Joye's team found that the dispersants actually suppressed oil-busting bacteria and slowed their ability to degrade oil. Instead, they favored microbes that, well, excel at digesting dispersants.

More:
http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2015/11/oops-deepwater-horizon-dispersants-backfired/414846/

[saturnsring]

1. wow what a suprprise corpamerica screws up again

[MisterP]

2. more ALF sabotage! (remember when they blamed Megantic on the hippies? ah, those where the days)

[Dustlawyer]

3. They didnt screw up, they knew just what Corexit does, its owned by a bunch of former BP Directors.

They wanted to sink the oil out of sight to save on the fine per barrel of oil that would be levied against them. they could have sucked much of it up, but then it could be counted. They only care about $$$$$, not the people and animals that have died because they chose this crap. They knew that the Herring population crashed 6 years after spraying it for the Exxon Valdez since the Corexit makes them sterile and also mutates the species it comes in contact with. Now that crap is all over the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico being consumed up the food chain. I live on the Gulf and now cannot eat the local seafood.

The tar balls are deadly for those with weakened immune systems or open wounds that come into contact with it. Most of the injured/sick from the spill are denied compensation after they fill out the 21 page claim form, no matter what their doctor says.

[erronis]

9. Horrible. Thanks for the information.

[Hydra]

13. Ya, I had the misfortune of being on top of the news at the time

And a lot of people sounded the alarm on the the Corexit, and it was done anyway. The gov't colluded with BP to understate the disaster for various reasons as well. Obama's plan was to ask us to "pray" after we protested the deepwater drilling and he assured us he was on top of it.

A disaster of disasters.

[bvar22]

4. And people don't understand WHY I don't trust any Large Corporation to tell the truth,

especially the Oil Industry, and Monsanto.

[Frustratedlady]

5. Didn't they recently come to an agreement on how much the fines would be to BP?

Surely, this new information would have made quite a difference in the total, not that it would matter. None of us will live long enough to see that paid in full.

[eppur_se_muova]

6. The purpose of dispersants was to make oil less visible -- out of sight, out of mind.

Like shit swept under the rug, it hasn't really gone away -- you just can't see it without trying.

[Duppers]

8. Sign, comment to deny BP's tax deductions....

https://uspirg.webaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13600&utm_source=Salsa&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=USP4-FTAX-1115&utm_content=EM5:01A:0GH-WOP

[OKIsItJustMe]

10. Oil dispersants can suppress natural oil-degrading microorganisms, new study shows

https://news.uga.edu/releases/article/oil-dispersants-can-suppress-natural-oil-degrading-microorganisms-1115/

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Oil dispersants can suppress natural oil-degrading microorganisms, new study shows[/font]

November 9, 2015
Writer: Alan Flurry
Contact: Samantha B. Joye

[font size=3]Athens, GA. - The use of chemical dispersants meant to stimulate microbial crude oil degradation can in some cases inhibit the microorganisms that naturally degrade hydrocarbons, according to a new study led by University of Georgia marine scientists. Their findings are based on laboratory-simulated conditions that mimic Gulf of Mexico deep waters immediately following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined microbial oil degradation in the Deepwater plume, simulating oil concentrations and dispersants concentrations observed during the incident. The team found that the presence of dispersants significantly altered the microbial composition of Gulf deep water by promoting the growth of Colwellia, a group of microorganisms capable of dispersant degradation.

However, when oil alone was added to parallel samples in the absence of chemical dispersants, the growth of natural hydrocarbon-degrading Marinobacter was stimulated.

"These compelling results show the naturally occurring communities of oil-degrading microorganisms, especially Marinobacter, are quite proficient at degrading oil and that oil biodegradation was more efficient in the absence of chemical dispersants," said the study's lead author Samantha Joye, Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Arts and Sciences.

…[/font][/font]

http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1507380112

[jtuck004]

11. Maybe they should make tea from worm castings, pour it on the spill. Might just eat it.

Probably better than this crap.

Better would be to find another energy source before we have to.

[Kokonoe]

12. My guess is it just makes oil sink.

why else would they disperse it.

Its not for saving dolphins, or other life.

[hatrack]

14. It's to limit federal fines, which are calculated on a per-barrel basis

Out of sight, off of ledger.