Earlier this month the government reported that 74% of the oil was gone. Two university studies are raising questions as to whether those claims are accurate. The studies released today are contradicting the government’s claims that there is more oil in the Gulf than what they claim.
The University of Georgia gathered data and said the residual oil left in the golf remains a 79% while the US government states 26%. “The concentrations that are currently out there in various locations are high enough to have a toxic effect on marine life”, according to Prof. Charles Hopkinson, Marine Sciences, University of Georgia.
The second study by the University of South Florida attributes their study to the concentration of disbursements that sank the oil. Their study indicated they discovered oil scattered about the ocean floor 40 miles from the Florida panhandle. It also states the disbursements used to detain the oil pushed the oil to the floor of the ocean instead of breaking it up into small particles.
The study shows that a large fraction of the oil is still in the system. This is in contrast to government statements earlier in the month. Jane Lubchenco, NOAA Administrator, stated the oil has either been burned, collected, disbursed or evaporated.
There is a vast discrepancy between the government and scientist about how much of the oil is still in the water. The government remains confident about their estimates. According to their estimates, 25% was captured, 25% evaporated, 25% disbursed chemically or naturally. The remaining 25% is residual and still in the Gulf.
The government and university studies are still concerned about the long term effects the remaining oil particles can have on the environment.