Things will not be known for a decade, at least.



The thing is: number one -- the velocity of the oil ejection from the well, combined with the gas egected has atomized at least some of the oil into very small components. Second, the dispersants used have also fractionated the oil into very small components. The nature of the dispersants is that of a detergent, or soap -- a molecule with a hydrophilic end and a hydrophobic end. The working action/purpose of the dispersants is to grab hold of the oil and to titer it from the system, which it has done. The Hydrophilic end of the oil/detergent molecules are water soluble and waiting to be ingested, assimilated, and accumulated into the organs and tissues of the creatures at sea.



Here is one example -- The effect of all this is that now great quantities of oil are sitting on the bottom of the sea and are being ingested and contaminating the mud loving bottom dwelling shrimp that are such a huge part of the ecosysytem and the local economy.



Think of the Food Web...the Food Chain...basic Ecology. All it takes is for one component of the cycle to collapse from oil contamination and the whole thing could go. Cumulative effects could take generations (seasons).



Here is another scenario -- we have no idea what the oil will do to to Oxygen levels in the water. What if the oil suppresses the Oxygen levels to an extent that all the Phytoplankton/Plankton/Microorganisms at the base of the food chain fail to reproduce next season or some following season?



It will take generations (seasons) to determine any significant detrimental effect.



jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"

John Crickmer

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