Heavy oil from spill reaches Louisiana marshes

Heavy oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill threatened Louisiana marshlands on Thursday after washing ashore for the first time since a BP-operated rig exploded a month ago, sparking ecological disaster. Calling it a "day that we have all been fearing," Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said on Wednesday that heavy oil -- not simply tar balls or sheen -- had entered the state's prized wetlands. "It's already here but we know more is coming," he said.The marshes are the nurseries for shrimp, oysters, crabs and fish that make Louisiana the leading producer of commercial seafood in the continental United States. A large no-fishing zone in Gulf waters seen as affected by the spill has been imposed.

Energy giant BP Plc scrambled to contain crude from the gushing undersea well, which ruptured after an April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig that killed 11 workers. The company said it is now siphoning about 3,000 barrels (126,000 gallons/477,000 liters) a day of oil, from what it has estimated was a 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons/795,000 liters) a day gusher. The company said it could begin injecting mud into the well as early as Sunday in a bid to permanently plug the leak. BP shares rose nearly 3 percent on Thursday in early London trading.

Adding another name to the group of companies connected to the doomed rig, Schlumberger Ltd said it had a crew on the Deepwater Horizon that departed only hours before the explosion and fire that engulfed it. The world's largest oilfield services company had not previously revealed its work on the Horizon.

Article continues: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6430AR20100520

Fish - Number One Cause of Mercury Poisoning in U.S.

In a new study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), every single fish tested from 291 freshwater streams across the United States was found to be contaminated with mercury.

"This study shows just how widespread mercury pollution has become in our air, watersheds and many of our fish in freshwater streams," said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that builds up in the food chain at ever higher concentrations in predators such as large fish and humans. It is especially damaging to the developing nervous systems of fetuses and children, but can have severe effects on adults, as well. The pollutant enters the environment almost wholly as atmospheric emissions from industrial processes, primarily the burning of coal for electricity. It then spreads across the plant and settles back to the surface, eventually concentrating in rivers, lakes and oceans, where it enters the aquatic food chain.

The number one cause of human mercury poisoning in the United States is the consumption of fish and shellfish.

Read the full article here.

Plastic Pollution

A recent article found on Environmental News Network http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/38956 explored the consequences of plastic in the environment and noted steps that individuals and busineses can do to minimize both their consumption and disposal of plastics. There are specific suggestions below that individuals can do.



Individual Level

• Take no plastic bags from the grocer's self.
• Refuse plastic bags at the check-out counter.
• Don't buy plastic sandwich bags.
• Buy beverages in sustainable containers like glass bottles or cans.
• Use water purifying device rather than to use plastic water bottle.
• Make a habit of thinking about what comes with each thing that you buy.
• Look for and reward Earth-friendly packaging choices, such as- buy greeting cards in paper boxes instead of clear plastic shells. Use pens that refill instead of landfill.
• Remove plastics from your office and business farms.
• Building the habit of keeping plastic out of water ways.
• In case of shopping, use own bags or recycled paper bags.
• Always remember litter generates litter. We should not dispose of plastic in the sewerage system.
• At the beach dispose of plastic and other litter in the bins provided. If these facilities are inadequate, contact the local authority responsible and lodge a complaint. Take your litter back home with you if there are no receptacles on the beach. Pick up any plastic litter you may see on the beach or in the rock pools in the vicinity in which you are sitting or walking.
• In the street never throw plastic or other litter out of your car or drop it on the pavement or in the gutter.