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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Group: Elaine C., Melissa O., Cory M., Bethany F., Ashleigh P.

12 comments:

  1. Oil Spill in Texas
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6836834.html

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  2. Hey Everyone,
    My name is Bethany F and I am going to be getting my RN here at JCTC. Port Arthur residents were forced to evacuate their homes, so officials could do an air quality test. Environmentalists are concerned about dangerous pollutants that could still be lingering, especially since this was the largest spill since 1990. I am wondering why the people were only told to stay away for a few hours, if there was still a concern that hydrogen sulfide could be coming from the tanker? Time should not be an issue when it comes to our health. Were the Port Arthur residents checked by a healthcare team? Will they be in the future?-----Bethany F

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  3. Hello Group,

    My name is Melissa O. I’m going to be getting my physical therapist degree here at JCC. It seems like the people involved with this oil spill is putting in great efforts to make this clean up go much faster. I like the detail that they are providing to the community of the clean up process. The residents only having to evacuate their homes for several hours while officials tested the air quality after the collision. Environmental groups remained concerned that residents may still be exposed to dangerous pollutants. I would think that they would not allow the residents to return until they knew for sure that everything was safe.

    Thanks-
    Melissa O.

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  4. Hello my name in Elaine C. I am a nursing major. I would like to know is there something that can be done to prevent spills from happening, because if this keeps accruing there will be a decrease in the amount of wild life. Plus the residents will also be a little bit irritated by having to keep evacuating their homes. Are there going to be any precautions used? Also what will happen to wildlife if these spills are not taken care of like they’re supposed to? I wonder what was used to clean up the spills before the current cleaning

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  5. Hey Group. My name is Ashleigh P. and I’m an aries. I feel really strong about animals, and this article certainly triggers my interest. I’m still a little confused on why the oil spill clean up is taking so long. Officials say that a little over half of the oil has been cleaned up, but it’s been two weeks. I’m sure that is a lot of oil, but Mr. Arnhart says the drum skimmer is the most effective tool, so why wouldn’t they get more of those skimmers to speed up the process. Another thing is the amount of wild animals they have claimed to save. ONLY THREE? 462,000 gallons of oil spilled, I’m sure over a wide area of water, and only 3 were saved. I wonder if there are more animals out there, or if there are any rescuers out there looking for them? Ashleigh P.

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  6. Hey group.. This is Bethany F. and I am responding to a questioned posed in Ashleigh P's blog post. The drum skimmer being the most effective tool and why wouldn't they get more to speed up the process? The drum skimmer may be the most effective tool up until now, but Science Daily states that- An ultra-light weight sponge made of clay and a bit that draws out the oil and leaves the water is going to be very effective in future oil spills. I would think that cost would probably be the issue with using more of the drum skimmers. So, it seems that scientist are trying to develop ways to more effeciently clean up oil spills, not just in the ocean, but any body of water or on roadways etc. Is it enough, is the question?

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  7. Hello everyone...This is Melissa O. and I am going to respond to Elaine C's blog. What will happen to wildlife if these spills are not taken care of like they are suppose to? Birds are the most high profile victims of ocean oil spills, but fish suffer from these accidents also. According to MSNBC's Green Page chemicals that are used to clean up oil spills are more toxic to fish particulary for eggs and young fish. On the scene of an oil spill difficult decisions need to be made quickly. Even the best equipment leaves a lot of oil behind. One way to get oil off the surface is to use a chemical dispering agent. These detergent-based substances cause oil to bead up into tiny droplets that can mix into water and disperse into deeper layers. Under water current can then dillute the oil and its risk to environment. Dispersion spares surface-dewelling animals, such as birds and otters. As oil drifts downward it falls on fish and on the eggs that are stuck to surfaces. Compared to the horrifying appearance of oil-drenched birds on beaches it can be hard to catch the attention of the public or even clean up managers. There needs to be some plan created of cleaning oil spills that will help protect animals above and below the surface.

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  8. Good evening group...sorry I'm late. It's me, Ashleigh P. I wanted to first say that I am equally concerned about future oil spills across the country. "The EPA estimates ten to twentyfive millions of gallons of oils spilled every year." There has got to be some way to prevent so much from spilling, even a fracture of that would make a difference. Between storing the oil, hauling it, and transfering it, there must be something we can do to improve. In the mean time, Case Western Reserve University researchers have come up with many clay-based solvents to help clean up oil spills. One in particular aerogels is said to soak up oil in the road way, and in fresh and salt water. This aergel will also preserve the oil for reuse, which will save alot of money. so why aren't we using this ASAP? Is there any other preventive measures people in the industry could use to move forward? Ashleigh P.

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  9. Hey everyone. This is Bethany and I am going to complete this blog session with a deeper look into Melissa's blog post about "What will happen to wildlife if these oil spills are not taken care of like they are supposed to?" The wildlife is not just the birds and the fish. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, "Oil spills can have serious effects on aquatic organisms and their habitats, often killing large numbers of fish and other aquatic creatures. In addition, the complex interrelationship of aquatic ecosystems can result in long-lasting indirect impacts. Food webs can be disturbed with the substantial loss of certain organisms, and contamination of delicate nesting areas can significantly effect a species' breeding habits." We think that wildlife is more of what we can see and don't think of the broader spectrum such as what sits on the bottom or around the body of water that has been affected by the oil spill. "Rocks found in and around flowing water serve as homes for mosses, which are an important basic element in a freshwater habitat's food chain. Spilled oil can cover these rocks, killing the mosses and disrupting the local ecology" (U.S Environmental Agency.) So in dealing with the wildlife, I hope that we have learned that oil spills affect so much more that just what has four legs, feathers or gills. It seems as though the life that you cannot see with the visible eye, effects more of the life around it, then we know. Thanks everybody. Bethany F.
    www.uppermichiganssource.com/.../Oil%20spill.jpg

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  10. http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/uploadedImages/kbas/News/Oil%20spill.jpg..sorry. here is the picture. thanks.:)

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  11. Hello group. This is Melissa and i would like to end this blog by adding more information on what it seems like Elaine,Ashliegh,and myself are the most concerned about when it comes to these oil spills and that is the effect on wildlife. Many government agencies and private organizations help to resuce marine animals and birds that have been exposed to oil pollutin. When an oil spill occurs there is often a plan to help these groups cooperate to save as many animals as possible. The government is responsible for animal rescue efforts,many private organizations assist in rescuing injured wildlife. Before any person or organization can handle or confine birds or mammals for rescue, they must get special permits that are issued by State and Federal officals. There are many ways they try to keep animals away from possible contamination. Devices such as propane scare cans, floating dummies and helium-filled balloons are often used to scare animals,particularly birds, away from oil areas. Rescuers must capture affected birds as quickly as possible in order to save them. Once birds have been captured they are taken immediately to treatment centers where they are given medical treatment and cleaned. If treatment centers are not available nearby, temporary facilities must be built in local warehouses or other large buildings. There are certain procedures that are followed once the birds are brought to the treatment center. There is also mammal rescue organizations that help oiled marine mammals to recovery. It makes me really upset to think what these animals have to go through when an oil spill occurs. Knowing that there are people and organizations out there that are trying to save these animals does give me hope that we can save them. Thanks Melissa O.
    http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/learning/rescue.htm

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  12. Good afternoon ladies...This is Ashleigh P. I wanted to go back to one of Bethanys' original concerns, Hydrogen sulfide polluting the air and the towns residents. Come to find out, Hydrogen sulfide will only linger in the air up to 18 hours. We all have the power to detect it. It smells strongly like rotten eggs. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, an individual should be tested within two hours of exposure to see if they have inhaled any of the toxins. Some low level exposure side effects are fatigue, eye irritation, and headaches. If someone has inhaled high levels of the gas they could experience loss of motor skills, loss of consciousness, and even death. So we could assume that the residents of Port Arthur we tested for the hydrogen sulfide, but what if they missed someone? Is there a way people can be checked and treated after that crucial two hours of exposure? Heres the link to all that info. Ashleigh P.http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts114.html#bookmark03

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