After the failure of the Deepwater Horizon oil well, nearly 2 million gallons of dispersant were released into the Gulf of Mexico to contain the spill. While the early reports suggested that it successfully dispersed much of the oil, the long-term effect of such a massive volume of dispersant on ecosystems, wildlife and humans remains to be seen. Some environmentalists believe that the effects of such dispersants on aquatic life may be nearly as severe as the oil spill itself and suggest we should not use dispersants.

Download Printable PDFs that appeal to 3 different reading levels and should be applicable from grades 4-12. Print one, two, or all three versions to appeal to the diverse reading abilities in your classroom:

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Environment by Editor