Incident: Party Responsible for Marine Pollution Revealed
In August 2019, a massive oil spill occurred along Brazil's coast, affecting over 1,004 localities and causing significant environmental damage. However, the responsibility for this disaster remains unclear, with no definitive attribution to a single company or entity.
The search results, examined here, do not point to a specific culprit. While BP is mentioned for its recent oil discoveries off Brazil's coast, it is important to note that the company was not involved in the 2019 oil spill, as its worst environmental disaster occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 [1][3][5]. Similarly, the major environmental disaster involving a mining dam collapse in early 2019 was attributed to the mining firm Vale, not an oil company [2].
The first oil slick was discovered in Paraíba on August 30, 2019. Unfortunately, the Brazilian government's response was slow, with the National Contingency Plan not activated until 38 days later. The Federal Police launched an investigation into ships that had sailed along the coast from Venezuela, and on December 30, two beaches in Ceara were impacted again.
Numerous mangroves in the northeast of the country have been affected, and Institute of Marine Sciences researcher Rivelino Cavalcante suggests that the oil remains adrift in the sea. As of now, more than five thousand tons of oil have been removed from beaches, rivers, and mangroves in Brazil. However, it's not possible to account for the number of animals affected on the high seas.
The Greek vessel Bouboulina is the prime suspect in the investigation, but the company responsible for its management, Delta Tankers, denies the charge. The oil spread over 3 thousand kilometers and reached the Abrolhos National Park, a main coral bank and marine biodiversity cradle in the South Atlantic.
Divers in environmental protection areas found corals, crabs, and lobsters dead under the sea. At least 113 animals out of 159 found oiled have died. The government claims the oil is from Venezuelan wells, but the origin of the oil remains a mystery, with Navy Vice Admiral Marcelo Francisco Campos stating that the source is still unknown.
In response to this ongoing mystery, Brazil has set up a Special Commission of Inquiry (CPI) to investigate the origin of the oil and the federal government's responses. The country's legislative branch now has the same power of investigation as a judicial authority through the Commission. A woman named Glaúcia de Lima, who lives on the outskirts of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, in Pernambuco, took part in the cleanup despite the health risks.
All people directly involved with the cleanup must be monitored for at least 10 years due to the benzene present in the oil that may cause cancer. The investigation continues, and it is hoped that the truth about the 2019 Brazilian coastal oil spill will be uncovered soon.
- The search results reveal no definitive attribution of the 2019 oil spill along Brazil's coast to a specific company or entity.
- Despite BP being mentioned for its oil discoveries off Brazil's coast, it was not involved in the 2019 oil spill, as its worst environmental disaster occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
- The Greek vessel Bouboulina is the prime suspect in the investigation, but the company responsible for its management, Delta Tankers, denies the charge.
- The origin of the oil that caused the 2019 coastline oil spill remains a mystery, with Navy Vice Admiral Marcelo Francisco Campos stating that the source is still unknown.
- A Special Commission of Inquiry (CPI) has been set up by Brazil to investigate the origin of the oil and the federal government's responses.
- The Brazilian government's response to the 2019 oil spill was slow, with the National Contingency Plan not activated until 38 days later.
- At least 113 animals out of 159 found oiled have died, and divers in environmental protection areas found corals, crabs, and lobsters dead under the sea.
- All people directly involved with the cleanup must be monitored for at least 10 years due to the benzene present in the oil that may cause cancer.
- In the aftermath of the 2019 oil spill, Brazil's legislative branch now has the same power of investigation as a judicial authority through the Commission, hoping to uncover the truth soon.
