Brenda Ballachey, Ph.D. (Former Employee)

On 24 March 1989, the T/V Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound (PWS). eventually releasing 11 million gallons of Prudhoe Bay crude oil. The subsequent oil slick extended from PWS southwest along the Kenai Peninsula, past Kodiak Island to the Alaska Peninsula (Galt and Payton 1990). The spill encompassed extensive areas of sea otter (Enhydra lutris) habitat. Estimates of sea...

The Exxron Valdez oil spill (EVOS) on 24 March 1989 threatened extensive areas of prime sea otter (Enhydra lutris) habitat along the coasts of south-central Alaska. The spill occurred in northeastern Prince William Sound (PWS), and oil moved rapidly south and west through PWS into the Gulf of Alaska. Much of the coastline of western PWS was heavily oiled, and the slick eventually spread...

Following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, sea otters (Enhydra lutris) that appeared to be contaminated with oil, that were in danger of becoming contaminated, or that were behaving abnormally were captured and taken to rehabilitation centers. Exposure to oil was assessed by visual examination when otters arrived at the centers. Degree of oil exposure was...

Biomarkers may be used to determine chemical exposure and effects in several important ways. These include (1) evaluation of new agricultural or industrial chemicals for effects, (2) screening of municipal or industrial effluents, (3) determining the geographic distribution of chemical effects in the environment and their changes over time, (4) determining the identity and source of...