Negro River Study Finds Genetic Damage in Fish After Oil Spill
On March 26, 2013, approximately 60,000 liters of an oil byproduct spilled from a barge on the Negro River, near the São Raimundo Harbor in Manaus.
When researcher Helen Sadauskas-Henrique saw the news, she canceled her Easter plans and rushed to the site to collect samples.
I had already conducted lab tests on the effects of oil exposure on fish in the Negro River, but I’d never observed anything like this in the natural environment.
Sadauskas-Henrique, now a professor at Santa Cecília University, recalls the incident as "all very fast and intense".
Author's summary: Oil spill causes genetic damage in fish.
- Date: March 26, 2013
- Location: Negro River, near São Raimundo Harbor in Manaus
- Spilled amount: approximately 60,000 liters of oil byproduct