"St. Petersburg, Fla. -- Scientists have found evidence that oil has become toxic to marine organisms in a section of the Gulf of Mexico that supports the spawning grounds of commercially important fish species.

Researchers from the University of South Florida said Tuesday that, in preliminary results, there appear to be droplets of oil among the sediments of a vital underwater canyon where clouds of oil from the BP spill were found.

"So, indeed, the waters have a level of toxicity that needs to be recognized, and I think these were some of the first indicators that the base of the food web -- the bacteria and the phytoplankton -- may be affected," said David Hollander, chief scientist on a research vessel that just returned from a 10-day trip in the gulf."

Sara Kennedy reports for McClatchy Newspapers August 18, 2010. [2]