The Gulf oil spill is obviously a disaster of immense proportions, but it’s also an excellent example of how human health, animal health, and ecosystem health are interrelated.
We already know that the spilled oil poses a serious threat to fish, sea birds, and other wildlife - from oil spilling into the sea as well as washing ashore and affecting land animals. We know that fish and other animals have died from being exposed to the oil, and that’s a tragedy in itself.
But many of us haven’t realized the long-term effects this spill could have on our food supply and public health. Because oil contains some chemicals that can cause cancer, it’s likely that we won’t be able to eat fish harvested from the Gulf for quite some time…in fact, it may be decades.