Protecting What's Right

The ability of oil-tainted marshlands to recover and survive has important long-term implications for the Gulf of Mexico’s recovery from the BP oil spill disaster, according to wetlands experts.

Cordgrass, wiregrass, and other plant species are vital to the very existence of coastal marshlands in southern Louisiana and other gulf states.  If oil-contaminated grasses die, the marshlands will cease to exist.  Such marshlands are important ecosystems that shelter “juvenile” sea animals including shrimp, crabs and fish until they are large enough to live in the open sea.  Marshlands are also important barriers that help protect coastlines from storm surges during hurricanes and tropical storms.

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Researchers with the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg have confirmed that subsurface oil plumes are from the BP oil spill, according to university officials.  This is the first definite, scientifically proven link between the underwater clouds of oil and the spill caused by the April 20 explosion.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s recent inspections of a Johnson & Johnson manufacturing facility uncovered a variety of safety violations that could compromise the quality of the drugs made there.

The report cited the factory for 12 types of violations.  Among them: factory personnel ignored rules governing manufacturing and quality, did not investigate problems that could compromise drug quality, were careless in the cleaning and maintaining of equipment, and engaged in sloppy record-keeping.  Moreover, FDA investigators often had to request information multiple times of the facility’s personnel and in some cases, waited several days before receiving it.

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BP has announced the appointment of Robert Dudley as the oil giant’s new CEO, after Tony Hayward resigned from the head post he’s held since 2007.

Dudley, an American who has been with BP since the company acquired Amoco in 1998, is tasked with addressing the consequences of the disastrous gulf oil spill for the foreseeable future.

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Yet another recall of children’s cadmium-tainted jewelry has been announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The latest recall involves jewelry distributed by Tween Brands sold at children’s stores Justice and Limited Too, as well as online at shopjustice.com.  The 19 styles of necklaces, bracelets and earrings are in the shape of butterflies, hearts, peace signs, cupcakes and crowns.  Some have the words “Best Friends Forever.”  They sold for $7.00 – $16.00 between November 2008 and February 2010.

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