Dispersed BP oil may still harm organisms

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Oil droplets now scattered in sediment along the Gulf of Mexico floor, following the BP spill, may still pose a risk to microscopic marine life, a study shows.

While researchers from the University of South Florida have observed evidence that the oil has become toxic to critical marine organisms, they point out that their findings require further analysis.

The dispersed oil does not appear to pose a risk of contaminating seafood in gulf waters, notes Jeffrey Short, chief scientist for the conservation group Oceana and a former oil pollution researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The New York Times reports. Short was not involved in the University of South Florida experiments.

The threat of toxic effects is greatest to spawning grounds close to the wellhead, where the oil plumes are concentrated.

Of particular concern is the DeSoto Canyon, a critical area that provides nutrient-rich waters that support the spawning grounds of commercially important fish species on the West Florida Shelf, the researchers state.

If the researchers' findings are conclusive, Short said, "It would confirm our worst fears -- that the oil is dispersed but that it's still harming the food web."