On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon exploded, then sank, killing eleven workers while working on an 18,000-foot well in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana.  Based on surface observations and a newly discovered oil leak in the damaged piping on the sea floor, approximately 5,000 barrels or 210,000 gallons of oil are leaking into the waters of the Gulf per day.  The spill, which Coast Guard officials had thought was contained within a 16 square mile radius, now covers 400 square miles, and may grow as the well continues to spew oil into the Gulf.  Governor Bob Riley confirmed this weekend that 80% of containment booms have failed to slow or contain the oil spill. The booms litter the beaches where they were no match for wind and waves. This catastrophic oil spill is dangerous, not only for residents of the Gulf, but also for the fragile ecosystem, and the Gulf’s recovering economy.

For residents of the Gulf, high-exposure levels to oil is a serious health risk that proves to have long-term effects.  According to a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry that examined the relationship between the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depressive symptoms in 13 Alaskan communities, men and women who were exposed were 3.6 times as likely to have generalized anxiety disorder and 2.9 times as likely to have PTSD.  Women exposed to this oil spill were particularly vulnerable to these conditions, and Alaska Natives were particularly vulnerable to depressive symptoms.  Beyond the plausible health risks to humans, the Gulf’s ecosystem is in great danger, as oil continues to leak into inhabited areas.

The massive oil spill bearing down in the Gulf on Louisiana's fragile coast wetlands comes at the worst time for untold numbers of nesting birds and spawning fish whose young are most vulnerable to the toxicity.  Turtles and birds will actually eat food that's covered in oil, which can affect their digestive systems. In birds, the oil seeps into their feathers and impairs body insulation, exposing them to cold and making it difficult for them to move. Almost all migratory birds, such as brown pelicans, herons, ducks, and sparrows, in the Western hemisphere stop over these marshes and many are guarding eggs along the shorelines.  With the oil reaching shore, many are getting covered in oil and dying within a matter of hours.  High tides and high winds can push the oil deep into the wetlands, which are accessible only by boat and offer few footholds for rescue workers and plenty of places for the frightened animals to hide.  Miles of boom barriers have been placed to protect three of the most sensitive wildlife refuges which are home to about 34,000 nesting birds.  Vast stretches of sensitive coastal areas remain utterly unprotected and it's unclear how well the booms hold up against the high winds and rough seas, said Tom MacKenzie, a spokesman for US Fish and Wildlife Service.  According to a study conducted by the Ecological Society of America on the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on habitat use by birds, oil spills may affect species through direct effects on population size and structure and direct and indirect (toxicological) effects on reproduction.  Of the 19 species that did exhibit negative impacts, 13 (68%) showed evidence of recovery only after 2.5 years.