研究称，数千条鱼被发现受到石油污染

研究称，数千条鱼被发现受到石油污染

Oil pollution has been detected in thousands of fish in the Gulf of Mexico, including higher levels in popular seafood choices like yellowfin tuna, tilefish and red drum, according to a new study.

一项新的研究显示，墨西哥湾的数千条鱼都被检测出受到了石油污染，其中包括一些受欢迎的海鲜产品，如黄鳍金枪鱼、方头鱼和红姑鱼等。

The research was carried out between 2011 and 2018. sampling more than 2.500 individual fish that belonged to 91 species living in 359 different locations in the Gulf. All of them contained oil exposure.

这项研究是在2011年到2018年之间进行的，在海湾地区的359个不同地点选取了超过2500条鱼，有91个物种。它们都含有油污。

When the Deepwater Horizon explosion occurred 10 years ago, millions of gallons of oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico's waters over 87 days.

十年前，当深水地平线发生爆炸时，数百万加仑的石油在87天的时间里流入墨西哥湾水域。

After the explosion, researchers, like those at the University of South Florida, raced to study the spill and its environmental effects in real time.

爆炸发生后，南佛罗里达大学的研究人员竞相对漏油及其对环境的影响进行实时研究。

Weeks later, BP made a 10-year, $500 million commitment to fund research. While the funding comes to a close this year, research done over the last 10 years is being released.

几周后，英国石油公司做出了10年5亿美元的承诺，为研究提供资金。尽管这项研究的资助将于今年结束，但过去10年的研究成果正在陆续公布。

The oil pollution in the fish included levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, known as PAHs. The toxic crude oil component was found in the bile of the fish. Fish bile, found in their livers, stores waste and aids digestion.

鱼类的石油污染包括多环芳烃，即多环芳烃。在鱼的胆汁中发现了有毒的原油成分。鱼胆汁，发现于它们的肝脏，储存废物和帮助消化。

As researchers learned during and after the spill, not all oil floats. Instead, it finds its way to the seafloor as well.

正如研究人员在漏油事件期间和之后所了解到的，并不是所有的浮油都会浮在水面上。相反，它也找到了通往海底的路。

While high levels of PAHs were expected in tilefish, which live in seafloor burrows where oil and PAHs are still found, the levels have been increasing over time.

尽管预计方头鱼体内的多环芳烃含量会很高，方头鱼生活在海底洞穴中，那里仍发现石油和多环芳烃。但随着时间的推移，含量一直在增加。

The researchers noted high levels in species of grouper, specifically yellowedge grouper. The concentration of oil pollution in their liver tissue and bile increased more than 800% between 2011 and 2017.

研究人员注意到，在不同种类的石斑鱼中，特别是黄楔石斑鱼中含量很高。2011年至2017年，他们肝脏组织和胆汁中的油污浓度增加了800%以上。

And high levels of PAHs appeared in fish that don't call the seafloor home. The study published last week in the journal Scientific Reports.

在不以海底为家的鱼类中，多环芳烃含量也很高。这项研究上周发表在《科学报告》杂志上。

"We were quite surprised that among the most contaminated species was the fast-swimming yellowfin tuna as they are not found at the bottom of the ocean where most oil pollution in the Gulf occurs," Erin Pulster said in a statement. Pulster, the lead study author, is a researcher in the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science.

艾琳·普尔斯特在一份声明中说:“我们很惊讶，受污染最严重的物种是快速游动的黄鳍金枪鱼，因为它们不是在墨西哥湾石油污染最严重的海底发现的。”他是该研究的主要作者，是南佛罗里达大学海洋科学学院的一名研究人员。

"Although water concentrations of PAHs can vary considerably. So where is the oil pollution we detected in tunas coming from?"

“虽然水中多环芳烃的浓度可能有很大的差异。那么，我们在金枪鱼身上检测到的石油污染来自哪里呢?”

The highest levels of oil pollution were found in fish living in the northern Gulf of Mexico, where the Deepwater Horizon spill occurred. Storms and currents stir up oily sediments, which keeps exposing fish living toward the bottom of the Gulf over and over.

石油污染最严重的是居住在墨西哥湾北部的鱼类，也就是深水地平线漏油事件发生的地方。风暴和洋流激起了含油的沉积物，使得生活在墨西哥湾底部的鱼类不断暴露出来。

The oil even attached itself to plankton, which landed on the seafloor.

浮油甚至附着在浮游生物上，浮游生物落在海底。

Coastal runoff from heavily populated areas, like Tampa Bay, can also contribute to these hotspots of oil pollution in the ocean.

来自人口密集地区的沿海径流，比如坦帕湾，也可能导致这些海洋石油污染的热点地区。

The study reinforced that fish from the Gulf of Mexico are tested for contaminants to ensure that they're safe to eat.

这项研究强调，来自墨西哥湾的鱼经过了污染物测试，以确保它们可以安全食用。

But the levels of PAHs are causing a decline in fish health, especially their livers.

但是多环芳烃的含量正在导致鱼类健康状况的下降，尤其是它们的肝脏。