The Gulf oil spill disaster is of a magnitude that we cannot comprehend. Our Gulf project will allow us to know what the Gulf's baseline contaminant levels are and to measure its future impact.
The Gulf oil spill is the worst oil spill disaster in our history. Its impacts are just beginning to be felt. As of July 1, already over 1,300 sea birds, 400 sea turtles, and 50 dolphins and whales have been found dead meaning that thousands more have already died and sank, not washing up on shore to be counted. The amount of toxins being dumped into the entire Gulf ecosystem are unprecidented threatening not only all the Gulf's marine life, but the Gulf's surrounding human population as well.
By measuring the toxic levels of the Gulf's dolphins and whales, we will be able to determine what the Gulf's baseline contaminant levels are and along the way as we carry out our research, we will help to rescue any distressed animals that we find.
By determining the Gulf's baseline contaminant levels, we will be able to measure and compare future contaminant levels found to help access the overall cumulative impacts the oil spill will have on the Gulf's marine life and human populations.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).