Scientists Find Sick Dolphins and Deep-Water Corals in Gulf of
Mexico Oil Spill Zone Two groups of scientists say they have
identified signs of poor health in dolphins and in deep-sea
corals due to exposure to polluted water in the northern Gulf of
Mexico where the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred nearly two
years ago. The deadly April 2010 disaster is the worst off-shore
oil spill in U.S. history. A team of biologists assessing the
health of a resident pod of dolphins in the Gulf’s Barataria Bay
say their preliminary findings indicate the marine mammals are
suffering from low body weight, anemia, low blood sugar, and
symptoms of liver and lung disease. Also, nearly half of the 32
dolphins they tested in mid-2011 have abnormally low levels of
certain hormones that help with stress response, metabolism and
immune function. One of the dolphins they examined was found
dead in January, and the researchers fear more will die. The
scientists say the dolphins’ ailments are similar to those found
in other mammals