Bacteria Consumes 200,000 tons of Oil Spill

 

Since the 2010 Horizon Deepwater oil spill, naturally occurring bacteria in the Gulf of Mexico has consumed over 200,000 tons of oil. Researchers are currently examining the rate at which these oil gluttons eat and how much bacteria it would take to clean an entire affected region.

Various organisms in the ocean have already collectively consumed over 50% of the oil.  Researchers believe that this specific bacteria will eventually consume all of the oil from the spill, with the exception of the very heavy hydrocarbons that shows up as tar balls in the oceans.

My advice?  Put your efforts into finding an effective bacteria aphrodisiac and tell those little guys to start pumping!

 

Sources:

http://www.oilandgasonline.com/doc.mvc/at-least-tons-oil-and-gas-deepwater-horizon-spill-gulf-bacteria-0001

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=gulf-oil-eating-microbes-slide-show

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