Off The Deep End – Oil From the BP Well Threatens Life on a Nearby Seamount

Posted on By Andrew Thaler 1 Comment on Off The Deep End – Oil From the BP Well Threatens Life on a Nearby Seamount
Science

“In 2002, ocean explorer Gale Mead was the first person to see and film the profusion of life 200 feet down on Salt Dome Seamount — just 16 miles from where the BP oil well is now gushing out of control. Mead (daughter of oceanographer Sylvia Earle) describes the corals and fish she saw and … Read More “Off The Deep End – Oil From the BP Well Threatens Life on a Nearby Seamount” »

Why mercury and PCBs?

Posted on By Bluegrass Blue Crab
Science

A while back I reviewed the many seafood guides and the various ways they rank seafood choices.  They do share one thing in common, however, and that’s the special denotation of certain species as hazardous to human health because of toxin load. Specifically, high levels of mercury and PCBs as found by an Environmental Defense study.

First, kudos to EDF for making their data have immediate impact. Other studies of toxins in fish have sat around for literally decades before becoming part of the mainstream discourse about fisheries. But it does beg the question, what makes mercury and PCBs so important among the myriad toxins  in our oceans and our seafood?

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