Bp's Pollution Legacy: Counting The Cost Of Environmental Damage

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is considered the worst environmental disaster America has faced. The incident, which occurred in April 2010, was caused by a defective cement job, with BP, Halliburton, and Transocean responsible in different ways. The oil spill resulted in unprecedented marine death rates, with dolphins and whales being the worst affected. The economic cost of the disaster was $144.89 billion in the United States, including settlements, liabilities, and legal fees. The spill also impacted the mental and physical health of oil spill workers, their families, and vulnerable communities.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill

On April 20, 2010, an explosion damaged the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, which was owned and operated by Transocean and leased by BP. The rig sank on April 22, rupturing the riser and causing oil to begin discharging into the Gulf of Mexico. The volume of oil escaping the well was originally estimated by BP to be about 1,000 barrels per day, but US government officials believed it could have peaked at more than 60,000 barrels per day. The total estimated volume of leaked oil was approximately 4.9 million barrels, making it the largest accidental oil spill in history.

The explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig resulted in the death of 11 workers, with 17 others injured. The rig was situated in the Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 41 miles off the coast of Louisiana. The primary cause of the explosion was a surge of natural gas that blasted through a concrete core that had been installed to seal an oil well for later use. Once released, the gas travelled up a riser to the platform, where it ignited.

The oil spill had a significant impact on marine life in the area. Birds were particularly vulnerable, with up to 800,000 dying as a result of ingesting oil or due to interference with their ability to regulate body temperatures. Brown pelicans and laughing gulls were among the species most affected. Additionally, by 2013, over 650 dolphins had been found stranded in the oil spill area, a four-fold increase over the historical average. The National Wildlife Federation also reported high stranding rates for sea turtles, mostly endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles.

Cleanup efforts involved the use of skimmer boats to remove the majority of the oil, and sorbents to absorb the remaining oil. Chemical dispersants were also used to break down the oil and prevent further damage to marine habitats. However, it was later found that these dispersants increased the toxicity of the oil, making the spill worse. In 2014, BP announced that cleanup along the coast was substantially complete, and the company provided funding for regular testing of fish, shellfish, water, and sand in Louisiana.

The economic cost of the disaster

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, caused by a defective cement job, led to a bleak environmental disaster with far-reaching economic consequences. The spill resulted in an ultimate economic cost to BP of $144.89 billion in the United States alone. This included $19.33 billion in 2016 settlements, $700 million in contingent liabilities, and $689 million in legal fees. The company also funded regular testing of fish, shellfish, water, and sand in Louisiana.

The economic fallout from the disaster extended beyond just BP. The spill impacted individuals, families, businesses, and communities, exacerbating the negative effects of previous disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf. The disaster also had socioeconomic repercussions, with vulnerable populations, including children, facing exposure to contaminants in soil and sand on beaches. This exposure could potentially lead to adverse health effects, further compounding the economic burden.

The clean-up efforts contributed significantly to the economic cost of the disaster. The use of chemical dispersants, such as Corexit, to break down the oil added to the expense. The application of dispersants at depth resulted in the formation of oil plumes, increasing the complexity and cost of the clean-up. The total volume of oil that leaked was estimated to be 3.19 million barrels, requiring an extensive and prolonged response.

The environmental disaster also had long-term economic implications for the region. The marine ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico suffered unprecedented damage, with high death rates among marine mammals, sea turtles, and fish. The decline in marine life disrupted the local economy, particularly in industries such as fishing and tourism. The full economic impact of the disaster may continue to unfold for generations, as the environment slowly recovers.

The environmental impact on marine life

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, caused by a defective cement job, is considered one of the worst environmental disasters in history. Over 130 million gallons of crude oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico, impacting marine life and the environment. The spill affected an area with 8,332 species, including 1,270 fish, 218 bird, 1,456 mollusc, 1,503 crustacean, 4 sea turtle, and 29 marine mammal species.

The BP oil spill had a significant impact on marine mammals, with the government collecting 128 dead or affected whales and dolphins. Studies have shown that the oil spill caused harm to bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay and the Mississippi Sound, with populations projected to decline by half. Dolphins and other marine life continued to die in record numbers, with infant dolphins dying at six times the normal rate. It is estimated that it will take approximately 100 years for the spinner dolphin population to recover. The long-term survival of the already small population of Bryde's whales in the Gulf is also in doubt, with nearly half exposed to oil and a quarter likely killed.

The BP oil spill also affected bird species, with at least 93 species exposed to oil. It is estimated that the spill harmed or killed about 82,000 birds of 102 species, including black skimmers, brown pelicans, clapper rails, common loons, laughing gulls, northern gannets, and terns.

Sea turtles were another casualty of the BP oil spill, with oil-contaminated turtles observed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is estimated that as many as 167,000 sea turtles of all ages were killed during the disaster, including endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles.

In addition to the direct impact on marine life, the BP oil spill also caused widespread pollution, leading to fishing closures across 88,500 square miles. Oil pollution can have long-term effects, persisting in the environment and impacting marine ecosystems and food chains. Corexit, a dispersant used during the spill, increased the toxicity of the oil by 52 times, further exacerbating the environmental impact.

The human health impact

The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has had a significant impact on human health. The spill affected marine life, including the 21 species of marine mammals that call the Gulf home, and the people who live in the region.

Cleanup workers and U.S. Coast Guard personnel who had been in contact with the oil experienced impaired lung and heart function and strained breathing. The long-term psychosocial impacts of the spill, such as the extensive fisheries closures, have yet to be fully understood, but they are likely to be significant. The BP Deepwater Horizon spill also compounded the negative effects of previous disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, and will likely exacerbate the trauma of future disasters as well.

The impact of the BP oil spill on human health is still being studied, and it will take time to fully understand the extent of the damage. However, it is clear that the spill has had a detrimental effect on the people and communities in the Gulf of Mexico. The use of dispersants to mitigate the oil spill may have also contributed to the human health impact, as their potential toxicities to humans are still under debate.

Air pollution is another issue that has impacted human health. BP's industrial activity contributes to air pollution, which has been linked to a variety of health issues, including respiratory problems, heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke. Older people, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.

Overall, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the company's industrial activity have had a significant impact on human health, and the full extent of the damage may not be known for years. It is crucial that BP and other responsible parties continue to address the health needs of the affected communities and work to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The long-term effects of oil spills

Oil spills can have serious long-term effects on the environment, wildlife, and human health. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, for instance, resulted in the release of 507 million liters of light Louisiana crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico over an 87-day period. This spill had a significant impact on the diverse and complex aquatic communities in the deep ocean, offshore pelagic areas, and coastal environments.

One of the long-term effects of oil spills is the damage to marine life and ecosystems. Oil spills can coat the feathers or fur of birds and mammals, impairing their ability to regulate body temperature and fly, leading to hypothermia and even death. Oil toxicity can also cause severe health issues such as heart damage, stunted growth, and immune system dysfunction in marine animals. For instance, the Deepwater Horizon spill led to a four-fold increase in stranded dolphin numbers and a significant rise in sea turtle strandings. Studies have also shown that exposure to weathered oil can decrease immune function in adult herring, with long-term impacts on cardiorespiratory health.

Oil spills can also have long-term ecological impacts on benthic communities, subtidal communities, and coastal wetlands. Oil can persist in the deeper subsurface sediments of heavily affected intertidal areas, leading to oil contamination, toxic effects on organisms, and ecosystem injury. Additionally, oil spills can result in failed recruitment of oysters over multiple years and damage to deep-ocean corals.

The use of chemical dispersants to break down oil can also have long-term consequences. In the case of the Deepwater Horizon spill, the use of Corexit increased the toxicity of the oil by 52 times, according to a study by Georgia Tech and the Universidad Autonoma de Aguascalientes. This mixture of oil and dispersant made the spill worse and further damaged the ecosystem.

While there is limited research on the long-term health effects of oil spills on humans, studies have found that oil spill cleanup workers can experience ongoing symptoms, including mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. The ingestion of toxic chemicals in oil can also potentially lead to serious health issues in humans, although more research is needed to understand the full extent of the long-term health consequences.

Frequently asked questions