Federal universities study impacts of oil spill

Since the beginning of the oil spill crisis, federal universities and research centers have played an important role in the monitoring, analysing and supporting of the cleaning efforts, often standing in opposition to the official narrative of “it’s not so bad, you can eat the fish, everything is under control” adopted by the government. Researchers from Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) said that the monitoring of the affected areas need to be sustained for years to come, with periodic, constant analysis, to make sure people are not going into intoxicated zones. Another UFBA researcher said that governments do not want to call much attention because a case like this affects tourism, but there are health issues, both to who goes to the beaches and to those that make a living fishing in these regions”.

A research group at UFBA investigated 38 marine animals from the spill areas and found oil in their digestive systems; although the level of toxicity was not yet clear, health officials advised people to avoid consuming fish and seafood from the affected regions. Researchers made clear that the damage is serious and will last decades.

By November, there was research about the oil spill ongoing at Federal Universities in Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Ceará, Alagoas and Bahia. The engagement of the Federal Universities and public research centers is especially relevant as they have also been a target of the dismantling, anti-science policies of Bolsonaro’s presidency, facing budget cuts above 30% and being targeted by fake news coming from the Ministry of Education.