What Can We Learn About Oil Spills From Studying Natural Seeps? Also, a Publication About Corexit.
Every day 20 to 25 tons of crude oil seeps up out of the naturally occurring Coal Oil Point off the coast of Ventura, CA. The amount of petroleum in surrounding sediment remains constant at about 800% to 8000% more than that in sediment at the site of the Exxon Valdez accident and there's a persistent slick and steady plume of hydrocarbons along the continental shelf from the 24/7/365 seepage. Accordingly it presents an opportunity to study the fate of the petroleum, the impact of currents and weather on dispersion, the natural biodegredation by microbes and the differences in habitats inside and outside the zone of weathered petroleum. For a primer see: "Weathering and the Fallout Plume of Heavy Oil From Strong Petroleum Seeps Near Coal Oil Point, CA."
For a discussion of the amazing diversity of life that lives in and on crude oil see (for free): "Microbial Diversity in Natural Asphalts of the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits".
Finally, if you want some reassurance about Corexit, you might want to read "Analysis of Eight Oil Spill Dispersants Using Rapid, In Vitro Tests for Endocrine and Other Biological Activity". A free version looks to be available at the EPA. Long story short: in vitro testing shows no evidence "that any of the dispersants will display biologically significant endocrine activity via the androgen or estrogen signalling pathways."
