GC reveals Gulf shellfish to be free of harmful trace elements

Gas chromatography made an appearance on Good Morning America this week as a scientist demonstrated the absence of hazardous trace elements in Louisiana shellfish, despite the state's proximity to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Ronald Kendall, chairman of Texas Tech University's Department of Environmental Toxicology, used gas chromatography to test for harmful trace elements in shellfish from the Gulf of Mexico.

The Miami Herald reports his findings - which revealed no contamination of the tested shellfish - as well as his assertion that further tests will be required in the months to come.

"Shellfish may be clear now, but in two months maybe not, depending on how the oil moves," he says. "You can't just test once and stop. There's a lot of oil in the Gulf."

He adds that analysis of larger fish also needs to be undertaken to determine the extent to which chemicals from the spilt oil are able to accumulate within them - but that there are areas along the coast that are still safe for fishing and swimming alike.