Gulf spill's effects 'may not be seen for a decade'

In April of 2010 Millions of barrels of oil spewed into the sea after a BP deepwater well ruptured. In a recent exploration using a submersible scientists from the University of Georgia discovered a layer of oil and dead animals in some cases over ten cm deep. Samantha Joyce, lead investigator, has disputed Bp's assessment that the gulf will be recovered by 2012. At the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Washington Prof Joyce told scientists that it may take up to a decade before all the effects of the oil spill even become apparent. It took several years before it became clear that the herring industry had been destroyed after the Exxon Valdez spill, Professor Joye noted at the conference. Professor Joyce believes that one day the gulf will make a full recovery but not by 2012 as Bp predicts. She believes by 2012 the extent of the damage will become clear.

Nicole LeDonne

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12520630