The deadly truth of every gallon spilled
(An editorial from On Wings Of Care Founder Bonny L. Schumaker)
2011 December 10
We are told that 200 million gallons of "Louisiana sweet crude" oil and 2 million gallons of Corexit dispersant were added to the Gulf of Mexico in the Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010.1 Leaving aside speculation as to how much those numbers should be increased to reflect reality in the Gulf today, and without going into scientific discussion of the merits of using chemical dispersants or dangers of crude oil pollution, let's consider what these numbers mean.
The US transportation sector consumes about 220 billion gallons of liquid hydrocarbon fuel per year.2 So all the oil that gushed into the Gulf of Mexico last year would have been enough to supply the entire US transportation needs for about -- eight hours.
The Louisiana Superdome -- the world's largest enclosed stadium -- has a volume of about 125 million cubic feet, or about 1 billion gallons. So all the 200 million gallons of crude that gushed into the Gulf would have fit into just one-fifth of the Superdome. The Gulf of Mexico is estimated to have a volume of 660 quadrillion gallons -- the equivalent of 660 million Superdomes! The ratio of those two quantities is a tiny 0.3 to one billion -- 0.3 ppb.
Recall that BP CEO Tony Hayward said "The Gulf of Mexico is a very big ocean. The amount of volume of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in relation to the total water volume." (Tony Hayward, 2010 May 14) The oil industry is famous for saying that "The solution to pollution is dilution." Are they right? Have we over-reacted a bit?
But wait. Let's not forget that both crude oil and Corexit are toxic to life. They are known to damage every bodily organ and system -- brain, heart, liver, kidneys, skin, respiratory, circulatory, immune, nervous, reproductive, and endocrine. They cause cancer and other diseases, DNA damage, and multi-generational birth defects.3 Our government's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says that crude oil is carcinogenic in concentrations as small as 80 parts per billion (80 ppb) when inhaled, ingested, or otherwise contacted closely.4
To dilute something to a concentration of 80 ppb means to mix it with the reciprocal of 80 ppb -- or 12.5 million times -- as much water. The resulting ratio of the two quantities -- the thing being diluted, and water -- is 80 to one billion (80 ppb). Here's an example to bring this home: A standard bathtub holds about 50 gallons. A concentration of 250 ppb of crude oil -- three times larger (more dangerous) than the aforementioned NIOSH safe limit -- would result from putting 0.01 teaspoon -- about one drop -- in a bathtub full of water.5
It is thus dangerous fallacy to refer only to the number of gallons of crude oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico. It is as fatally misleading as telling someone not to worry because, after all, you spilled barely a teaspoon of bleach into their large mug of coffee!
Making it worse, humans and large marine mammals such as dolphins and whales are considerably more robust to this kind of poisoning than are the smaller, less complex marine animals -- the animals whose normal lifespans are less than a year or two and who contribute heartily to the food chain of the Gulf. For them, the unsurvivable concentration of crude oil in sea water is much less than 80 ppb.
What does all this mean, exactly? If crude oil (or a 100:1 mix of crude and Corexit) is toxic until it is diluted to a "safe" concentration of 80 ppb, then the effective volume that results from thoroughly mixing 200 million gallons of crude with seawater could be as great as 12.5 million times 200 million gallons -- or 2,500 trillion gallons of toxic water. That would fill 2.5 million Superdomes and is enough to cover uniformly all five Gulf Coast states6 -- Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, with a 25-ft-deep toxic lake where life would be unsustainable. Put another way, it could cover all of the US Lower 48 states with .046 inches, or 1.2 millimeters, of toxic, carcinogenic rain.7
If we are willing to accept a limit that is 50 times higher than the NIOSH safe limit of 80 ppb, or a concentration of about 4000 ppb (4 ppm), we would now be at a concentration that corresponds to a water quality largely unacceptable even for industrial use, a level of impurity so high that water treatment plants couldn't even bring it up to drinkable quality. If we take THAT concentration as acceptable for marine life in the Gulf, then 200 million gallons of crude oil, diluted by mixing to 4 ppm, is enough toxic water to cover all five Gulf coast states uniformly with a 6-inch-deep toxic lake.
Think maybe we've done some damage?
1It is also sometimes stated in terms of barrels (bbl). A barrel of oil is equivalent to 42 US gallons. 200 million gallons is equal to about 4.8 million barrels.
2http://www.americanenergyindependence.com/fuels.aspx
3See, e.g., toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/ or EPA warnings about crude oil components such as benzene.
5In metric units, one liter (l) -- or 1000 millileters (ml) -- is equal to 1000 cubic centimeters (cc). Conversely, 1 cubic meter (m3) is precisely equal to 1000 liters, or 1,000,000 (one million) ml. So-called "standard units" have no such convenient relations. One cubic foot is equal to about 7.48 US gallons, or 957.5 fl oz. Since there are approximately 2.54 cm per standard inch, and 12 inches per foot, one cubic foot is approximately 28.3 liters, and one gallon is approximately 3.8 liters.
Metric units have another advantage when comparing volume to weight of water: For pure water on Earth's surface, 1 cc weighs 1 gram (g), or 1000 milligrams (mg). Equivalently, 1 liter (l) -- 1000 ml, weighs 1000 gm, or 1 kilogram (kg). In contrast, one US pound (lb), defined as 16 dry ounces (oz), implies the awkward relation that 1 gal weighs about 8.3 lb or 133.5 oz. Using cubic feet instead of gallons is no better: one cubic foot of water weighs a little over 1,012 oz. And 1 fl oz of water weighs about 1.06 dry oz!
When comparing units of volume to other units of volume, fractions or percentages are convenient. One part per million (1 ppm) -- equal to 1000 parts per billion (ppb), is the same as 1 cubic centimeter per cubic meter, or 1 cc/m3. It is also equal to approximately 0.58 teaspoons per cubic foot (1 fl oz = 6 tsp). For water at Earth's surface, these true fractions (volume compared to volume) are essentially identical to densities (weight compared to volume), because 1 ml of water weighs 1 mg -- equivalently, 1000 l, or 1 cubic meter, of water weighs 1 kg. This is not true of substances other than water. For example, 1 ml of Texas crude oil, at 60° F, weighs 0.873 mg. These details don't change the substance of the arguments in this note, however.
6The area of Texas is 261,232 sq mi, or 7.283 trillion sq ft. That area, with a height of 1 ft, would have a volume of 55 trillion US gallons. The area of Louisiana is 51,843 sq mi. Area of Mississippi is 48,434 sq mi. The area of Alabama is 52,423 sq mi. The area of Florida is 65,795 sq mi. 1 mi = 5,280 ft. The combined area of LA, MS, AL, and FL is 218,495 sq mi, or 6.091291 trillion sq ft. That area, with a height of 1 ft, would have a volume of 45.563 trillion gallons. The Deepwater Horizon's resulting 2,500 trillion gallons of toxic water was enough to cover the combined Gulf Coast states of LA, MS, AL, and FL with a 55-ft deep toxic lake, or the state of TX with a 50-ft-deep toxic lake. Alternatively, it was enough to cover all five Gulf coast states -- including Texas, with a 25-ft deep toxic lake.
7Together, the 48 contiguous states and D.C. occupy a combined area of 3.1 million square miles, or 87 quadrillion square feet. x 1 ft = 650 quadrillion gallons. Therefore 2500 trillion gallons of 80 ppb crude would cover the lower 48 and DC with 0.046 inches, or 1.2 mm, of toxic water.
Copyright © 2011 On Wings Of Care, Inc. and Bonny L. Schumaker, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved.
_____________________________________________________
Pellie Lou!
"The Story of Pellie Lou - a Pelican who survived the Gulf of Mexico oil spill"
by Bonny L. Schumaker, Ph.D.
With 46 photos from the Gulf of Mexico.
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You can track our paths for several days after them, when we keep our GPS "SPOT" transmitter on "Track" mode. For the latest flights, see
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Read about our rescues under Rescue Tails!
Here are some samples:
A Dog Named Pepper Doesn't Give up Easily on Life!
20130428 - This 15-yr-old deaf, blind, arthritic senior held out in a hot, dry, desert parking lot until love finally found him!
CHAZ - No Ordinary Extraordinary Cur!
20130422 - Left to die but instead, this super-intelligent deep-hearted dog discovered love, family, and even fun -- from the most unlikely mentors!
Turbulent Trails for Tails from TX-20130413
Six rescue dogs from east Texas find forever homes in Nevada and California!
Skip the Wonder Sled Dog - 20120930
Happy Update! 20130312
Last but not left! 20130106
Happy Update - 20130311!
20121223-Thanks to Sheba, the rescued and rescuer
Who was rescued, and who was the rescuer? Anyone who has known this kind of bond has felt something so deep, so real, so ancient, that it cannot be described with words. These bonds ground us and free us from pettiness in our lives. Thank you Sheba. Rest in peace.
A Letter From Your Admirers! 20121231
20121208- 43 Dogs go from dead-end in Porterville to homes and happy hearts!
This was a last-minute challenge that seemed beyond even our own grandest heroic imaginings. But it turned out not to be beyond the devoted hearts and energies of about 30 rescuers, shelter staff, volunteers, and families working together. Forty-three (yes, 43!) dogs in one day, from dead-ends in a Porterville shelter to homes and real lives with real humans who love and want them. Rescuers ROCK! 
20121206-Saga of Squee: From orphan with mange to her own fur-ever family!
Orphaned very young, left alone and hungry til her fur fell out and her skin was covered with mange. Thanks to some big-hearted Texas rescuers, not only did she recover, she found the family who wanted to love her forever. How glad we were to be able to give this little pup with the big paws the ride to the rest of her life! 
20121205-Blackie Goes Home at Last, and Taylor Turns Texan!
Four long months since Blackie's lifelong human companion and partner Tammy suffered a serious injury from a passing truck and disappeared from his life. Suddenly Blackie was in a shelter kennel, and Tammy fought for her life as she dreamed of her beloved dog. Thanks to many people, both of these souls survived to find each other again! This was a rescue and a reunion we'll never forget.
Miss T'Chen was lost in Hurricane Isaac, and saved 800 miles away!
2012 Oct 02
The same rains that made us work "On WHEELS Of Care" this week kept us grounded for this trip, which serendipitously combined the transport of Skip northward and the joyful and miraculous reunion of Miss T'Chen, who had been rescued and taken to Illinois after Hurricane Isaac, with her family in Baton Rouge!
This flight went almost as planned, and our plane was filled to over-flowing on every leg. And we met some wonderful new cat and dog rescues in Idaho and Oregon!
20 Lucky rescued dogs flown to homes in Canada!
2012 Sep 22
It turned out to a journey full of unexpected challenges, but these 20 lucky lovable canines who had been through the worst of times in California were just the best through it all, and now they are warming the hearts and laps and lives of some very lucky Canadian families! 
Spindletop Scandal and the Search for Scarlett
2012 July 17 - present
With pitbull-like tenacity, we wouldn't take "NO" for an answer. Out of 21 dogs we sought, we have closure on all but two. Alas, one of those two is our Scarlett. 
Tale of seven cities, six cats, and five goats!
2012 July 16
Who knows if the pleas for help brought the plane, or vice-versa.
But when serendipity puts this much together, there's no saying no!
Homeless Mom and Pups no More!
2012 July 08
Sometimes rescuers find the IDEAL person to adopt that animal in need ...
themselves! And in the process, a hole gets filled for the entire family.
This lucky mom now lives with Bear, Sheba, and Dave!
From Empty Nest to Love Fest!
2012 May 11
That last urgent plea came for the five orphaned pups ...
but what about the two large senior boys who would probably never get adopted?
Some people are just angels, meant to be who they are and where they are.
Check out these two and their new happy pack!
JEREMIAH has come home to us!
UPDATE 2012 July 7!
2012 January 13
His adopter called to say she had become ill, and could we care for Jeremiah? You bet we could. We rented a plane and flew to Arizona and retrieved him immediately. Jeremiah was indeed a true friend, and we aim to be his true friends, too. He has been eating like crazy and slept his stress away for the first few days, and now he's acting like a young dog again. Read more here! 
CHAMP found at the airport!
2012 January 01
A sad, scared but dignified young Champ quickly won the hearts of everyone who met him at the New Orleans airport, and within two days we had permission from his original breeders to give him to a young couple with a younger female boxer mix, all of whom fell totally in love with him at first sight! Champ and Miss Princess are leading the good life now, and Champ's new dad finally has the fishing buddy he wanted! They tell us we made their dreams come true. We think they made Champ's come true, too.
Abby & Dinozo -- Two of a Kind!
2011 September--2012 January
Orphaned brother and sister, rescued and adored until calamity struck and they lost their family. Orphaned again, these gentle gems and perfect canine citizens found love and adventure with us until we found them their true forever home! Abby & Dinozo came with us to Washington January 7, and they were welcomed warmly and immediately into a home. Read more here! 
Yo! Get a Load of Yolo!
2011 November--2012 January
Left in the cold, high in the mountains of southern California, life was over before it had barely begun for this orphan teenager.
Little did he know, his adventures had only begun! As of January 7, it's back to snow but this time with a family who adores him, and lots of fun and play in the Pacific Northwest!
Saving Scarlett -- Love Forever at Last!
2011 August--December
Found on the streets, teats full but puppies absent, a battle-torn very hungry pitbull.
Hardly that sought-after doggie in the window.
But after we brought Miss Scarlett home to love and food, warmth and stuffed animals,
we discovered a warm heart and sweet spirit that changed us forever.
Gunner and Cain - A Very, Very Long Journey Home and the Happiest Reunion Ever!
2011 July--September 29, A Joyful Reunion At Last!
Here they are during their flight with four other dogs Sep 29 (New Orleans to Oakland, CA, fuel stop in Roswell, NM). .JPG)
And here's a photo from the happiest reunion ever!
More photos and updated videos here!
Ten dogs from death row to Canada!
Sheba-Cosette - this lovely lady waited a lifetime!
(2011 June) 
Jeremiah - a true friend finds a new lease on life!
(2011 May) 
Two Giant Dogs & three cats reunited with their family on Whidbey Island, WA
(2011 April)
Chihuahuas "Betty" & "JellyBean" fly to their rescue in Bremerton, WA!
(2011 April)
New Year's Rescue: 33 dogs & cats are flown to rescue in the Pacific Northwest!
(2011 January)
Hounds fending for themselves for years in Alabama fly to rescue in Arizona!
(2011 Mar)
Romo & Stanley are flown to safe havens in Arizona!
(2011 Mar)
Aerial Monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico - 2013
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2012 Nov 08 - Tar Sands and Texas
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2012 Aug 28 - Hurricane Isaac Arrives!
2012 Aug 13 - Sinkhole in Bayou Corne, LA
2012 Jun 13-Dispersant Spraying Exercise off LA
2012 April - Chronicles of the Endeavor
2012 Dec 10 - How Dilute is Dilute Enough?
Aerial Monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico - 2012
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Aerial Monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico - 2011
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Aerial Monitoring of the Gulf, 2010
Galapagos Veterinary Support
Galapagos vets do much with little,
thanks to true friends who shipped a TON of supplies and meds from the U.S. in June, 2011.
Alabama
2011 April --
“Man can no longer live for himself alone. We must realize that all life is valuable and that we are united to all life. From this knowledge comes our spiritual relationship with the universe.”
-Albert Schweitzer
