Types of Pollutant
Oil & Grease


Description
 

Oil and grease come from machinery, equipment and boats.

Why does it cause pollution? 

When oil and grease get into water, they stick to things like fish and macro-invertebrates, like dragonfly larvae, and micro-invertebrates like copepods and diatoms.  The oil and grease are toxic, or poisonous, to these organisms.  These organisms form the base of the food chain, so small oil and grease spills can harm local food chains.

What land uses are the source of this type of pollution in the B-T Basin?   

Causes in the Barataria and Terrebonne Basins are unknown.  In some other places they might be caused by boat dumping or urban runoff