Auburn researcher finds dangerous bacteria in tar balls from Gulf oil spill
Published: Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 8:00 AM Updated: Thursday, March 29, 2012, 9:25 AM
Hannah Wolfson -- The Birmingham News By Hannah Wolfson -- The Birmingham News
They found that the tarballs -- which oil executives and government officials have said are little more than a nuisance -- are teeming with bacteria, including Vibrio vulnificus, the leading cause of death from eating bad oysters. In fact, they discovered that the balls had up to 100 times more of that particular bacteria than the water they floated in and 10 times more than the sand they rested on.
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Meanwhile, she warns that it's best to give any tarballs -- which show up on Gulf beaches even when there's not a major spill -- a wide berth, even though it's unlikely most people will get sick from them. Some people do have greater risk from V. vulnificus, especially those with suppressed immune systems and chronic health conditions like liver problems and diabetes, and it can travel through cuts in the skin.
"Tarballs accumulate a lot of bacteria, and they should be treated as you would treat a bad crab or something that is rotten on the beach," said Arias. "There's more to it than just being a nuisance."
