The areas covered are "shocking"
The underwater unmanned detector captured a high-definition image of a barrel-shaped object.
According to foreign media reports on April 26th, researchers at the University of California, San Diego captured 27,345 high-definition images of "barrel" objects on the seabed between Santacatalina Island and the Los Angeles coast 146 square kilometers.
Local media reported last year that many southern California enterprises had dumped DDT-containing pollutants into this water area in history. Because it is deep in the ocean, the exact location and scope of dumping have never been known. Therefore, the researchers investigated this water area from March 10 to 24.
Underwater unmanned detectors using sonar technology have captured as many as 25,000 high-resolution images of "barrel-shaped" objects 900 meters below the steep seabed under investigation. Eric Terrill, chief scientist of the expedition team and director of the Marine Physics Laboratory of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, said that the area covered was "shocking".
Previously, it was found that sediments and ecosystems in this area contained high concentrations of DDT. However, whether there is this chemical in the barrel needs further study and confirmation. DDT is highly toxic, and a small amount of DDT will cause fatal danger to prawns and aquatic animals.
"industrial waste dump"
The waters are 20km away from LA and 0/2km away from Santacatalina Island/KLOC-0. Decades ago, it was "always a dump of industrial waste".
According to the previous transportation log, during the period from 1947 to 196 1, an industrial waste treatment enterprise serving montrose Chemical Company in California dumped 2,000 barrels of industrial waste containing DDT here every month.
Other companies are also dumping here. It is estimated that the dumped DDT is between 350 and 700 tons.
This situation did not stop until 1972 "American Ocean Dumping Act" came into effect.
The cancer of sea lions is related to DDT.
A member of the expedition who conducted the study.
The research team on the research ship includes a team of 3/kloc-0 scientists, engineers and crew, and two automatic underwater robots, which operate 24 hours a day.
Lihini Aluwihare, a Scripps chemical oceanographer and professor of earth sciences, said that the long-term impact of this on marine life and human beings is still unclear.
In 20 15, Aluwihar cooperated to complete a study, and found a lot of DDT and other artificial chemicals in the blubber of bottlenose dolphins that died naturally. "These results also raise the question of its potential impact on the health of marine mammals, especially considering its impact on human beings for generations."
If these "barrels" leak, scientists can take samples from water, sediments and other marine life to measure the loss.
Previously, high levels of DDT were detected in marine mammals in this area, and this chemical was also considered to be related to the cancer of sea lions.