14 DAY TRIAL // According to an investigation whose findings were published in yesterday's issue of the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010 caused dolphins living in Barataria Bay in Southern Louisiana to develop lung and hormonal problems.
In their paper in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, specialists detail that, as part of this research project, they assessed the overall health condition of 29 bottlenose dolphins living in said region of the Gulf of Mexico.
The marine mammals were all subjected to thorough physical examinations. Besides, the researchers used ultrasounds to determine how healthy their lungs were, EcoWatch reports.
It was thus discovered that, of the 29 dolphins examined, about 48% were in fairly poor shape, and roughly 17% of them were in very poor or grave condition. Otherwise put, the marine mammals had little chances to survive on the long run.
“Barataria Bay dolphins were 5 times more likely to have moderate–severe lung disease, generally characterized by significant alveolar interstitial syndrome, lung masses, and pulmonary consolidation,” the researchers write in the Abstract to their paper.
“Of 29 dolphins evaluated from Barataria Bay, 48% were given a guarded or worse prognosis, and 17% were considered poor or grave, indicating that they were not expected to survive,” they add.
The dolphins were also found to be underweight, and have low levels of adrenal hormones.
Apparently, the health issues documented in Barataria Bay's dolphin population are consistent with the findings of laboratory studies focusing on the effect of petroleum hydrocarbons on mammals.
What's more, none of these medical problems were found to affect dolphins living in Sarasota Bay, i.e. an area not affected by the oil spill.
“Disease conditions in Barataria Bay dolphins were significantly greater in prevalence and severity than those in Sarasota Bay dolphins, as well as those previously reported in other wild dolphin populations. Many disease conditions observed in Barataria Bay dolphins are uncommon but consistent with petroleum hydrocarbon exposure and toxicity,” the researchers say.
This investigation into how the BP oil spill affected dolphins in Louisiana’s Barataria Bay was carried out in August 2011.