May 28, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): A new plume of oil has been discovered by marine scientist in the Gulf of Mexico. The enormous plume stretches about 22 miles from the well which had exploded on April 20 towards Mobile Bay, Alabama.

David Hollander, an associate professor teaching chemical oceanography at the University Of South Florida College Of Marine Science’s revealed that the plume was found just underneath the surface about 1000 meters down and is around 9.6 kilometres wide.

The maximum amount of hydrocarbons have been found at around 400 meters at the same exact spot on two different day in the same week as per Hollander’s account. This finding is crucial as it suggests that the plume is not a naturally occurring one and its intensity is greatest in deep waters.

The researchers will now conduct test to verify whether this substance is an outcome of dispersants which escaped away from the well.

This newfound plume is a cause for fear as it is headed towards the shallow waters, which might endanger fish and other underwater species.

Hollander also revealed that since the oil is no longer visible as it has blended with the water, it has caused fear amongst researchers as it could have adverse effects on fish and their larvae which would in turn affect the food web and we will have to deal with its long term effects.

The toxic chemicals in the oil can harm the immune system and reproductive systems of animals.

This is yet another environmental hazard caused by the oil spill.