Study: Microbes not depleting oxygen

Government scientists are reporting that microbes are consuming the oil in the Gulf of Mexico without depleting the oxygen in the water and creating “dead zones.” Outside scientists said this so far vindicates the decision by BP and the government to use chemical dispersants deep underwater to break up the oil. Oxygen levels in some places where the BP oil spilled are down by 20 percent, but that’s not low enough to create dead zones, according to the 95-page report released Tuesday. (Source: AP via Sun Herald, 09/07/10) NOAA news release