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The Power and Partners to make a Difference
Assessing toxic impacts in the Gulf across species and habitats requires a network of dedicated partners. MERI's partners include:
•The Wadsworth Center at the State University of New York
•The Gulf Restoration Network
•The Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University
•Google Ocean & Mission Blue Foundation
•RVLL Ocean Endeavors
At the core of this dynamic team of public, private, and university partners, MERI will carry out a region-wide ecotoxicological investigation.
Impact Assessments
•The distribution and fate of crude oil-related contaminants, including but not limited to, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated PAHs and their hydroxylated metabolites (OH-PAHs) throughout the Gulf food web – in water, sediments, plankton, estuarine and offshore fish, sea turtles, marine birds and marine mammals
•The distribution and fate of contaminants released from dispersants (surfactants, solvents)
including spatial and temporal patterns of contaminant transport, behavior, and food chain accumulation
•The toxicity of crude oil, dispersed oil, and dispersants in targeted species, including potential human toxicity from seafood consumption