The Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred on April 20, 2010, and was caused by an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that killed 11 workers and injured 17 others. The rig, located 66 kilometers southeast of the Louisiana coast, left an oil well that was finally shut in on July 15, nearly 2 months later. It was the largest accidental marine oil spill in history and the largest offshore environmental disaster in the United States (Telegraph, New York Times, BBC News). Scientists estimate that more than 4.9 million barrels of oil have been released into the ocean, about half the crude oil the United States imports every day and worth $400 million (Popular Mechanics, CBC News). Approximately 1,070 kilometers of coastline have been contaminated. Over 47,000 employees were deployed, 1.4 million barrels of liquid waste collected and $40 billion spent on cleanup. Aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Louisiana showing the Deepwater Horizon oil rig burning after a deadly oil well explosion. Credit: Gerald Herbert The Gulf of Mexico contains commercially important aquatic life, including blue crabs, squid, shrimp and fish. Toxins in the oil can kill these species or cause injuries such as genetic damage, disease, cancer, and damage to the reproductive and immune systems. Marine mammals, fish, reptiles and birds depend on clean, healthy habitats to provide food, shelter and breeding grounds. The presence of oil discharged into the environment can cause reduced habitat use in the area, altered migration patterns, altered food availability, and disrupted life cycles. Plants affected by the oil could die, eliminating the roots that help bind and stabilize the soil on the ocean floor, causing erosion… middle of the paper… Spider web. November 6, 2011.Gunter, Ford. “The explosion could have disastrous business consequences.” Portfolio. Wall Street Horizon, April 28, 2010. Web. November 6, 2011. “Bird Impact Data and Consolidated Wildlife Reports.” FWS Deepwater Horizon oil spill response. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. “Sea Turtles, Dolphins, and Whales and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill.” Office of Protected Resources. NOAA Fisheries and Web. November 6, 2011. “Oil Out on the Gulf Coast: One Year Later.” Gulf oil spill response. National Association for Park Conservation, n.d. Web. 6 November 2011. "The reputation of British companies in the United States is in danger." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 14 July 2010. Web. 6 November 2011. "David Cameron takes on Barack Obama in battle to protect BP." The telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 16 June 2010. Web. 6 November 2011.