The seabed often causes apprehension: after all, that floor is hundreds of meters underwater where human life could not exist. This habitat is already quite disturbing in itself, so imagine the surprise of the divers who found thousands of rusty barrels in the depths off the coast of California.
There weren’t just hundreds, but thousands of barrels lying there forgotten, each one leaving a patch of water where nothing moved. There was absolutely no marine activity around them—no fish, no coral, no crabs. Just desolation and sand.
For years, no one knew for sure what they contained. They speculated that they were DDT or other toxic chemicals. Now, some scientists have managed to analyze the surrounding sediments and reveal their mysterious contents. After decades of mystery, we finally know what those barrels contain. But the real question is: How did they get there? How do they harm that marine area and the creatures that inhabit it?
The abandoned barrels
Several years ago, these barrels were discovered on the seabed between Los Angeles and Catalina Island. Using sonar and submersibles, dozens of thousands of barrels scattered across the seabed were located. Each one had a visible halo, so obvious that authorities feared toxic leaks.
Thanks to recent research by Scripps, the mystery has been largely solved. These were not barrels of oil, but highly alkaline waste (with a pH level close to 12). This chemical reaction causes white rings and kills much of the microbial life around it… Hence the famous rings.
How did the barrels get there?
Environmental awareness is a relatively recent phenomenon (or at least, civic ethics). That’s the crux of the matter: in the mid-20th century, companies could dump waste into the ocean, as it was completely legal. Some companies, such as Montrose Chemical, transported barrels of waste on barges and disposed of them relatively close to the coast. Records show that this type of practice began in the 1930s, with frequent shipments of up to 1,000 barrels per year. For decades, these dumps were hidden from human eyes but very present in nature. This practice did not stop until 1972, when federal law enacted the Ocean Dumping Act. It was not until 1991 that all such dumping was banned.
California’s dark—and far from eco-friendly—past
It is highly ironic that California is known today for its strict environmental standards. However, it had an industrial past that still haunts it. In the middle of the last century, Southern California was home to the largest pesticide plant in the United States, located in Los Angeles. Its proximity to marine canyons made it a perfect area for “legally disposing” of toxic waste.
These barrels are a lasting reminder of how what seems perfectly legal and ethical today may seem like an atrocity to future generations. We can only imagine what our grandchildren will think when we tell them what was normal at the beginning of the 21st century.
What will happen to the barrels?
Although it may seem incredible, it is very difficult to remove these barrels without causing further damage to the seabed. After all, they are located thousands of feet below the surface and scattered across a fairly rocky seabed. Many are corroded by rust and could break completely when handled, which would lead to even greater contamination.
For now, authorities are focusing on mapping, monitoring, and managing the risks rather than attempting to remove them. They are also warning fishermen about consuming fish from the area. Due to the risk of contamination, it is recommended not to consume any fish caught in that area. So next time you head to LA, skip the fishing trip.