Mussel Watch consults with experts to determine appropriate contaminants to monitor ; these include dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane ( DDT ) , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs ) , and polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCBs ) . As of 2008 , Mussel Watch monitors approximately 140 analytes . In addition to the effects of contaminants , Mussel Watch is able to assess the effects of natural disasters , such as the 2005 Hurricane Katrina , and environmental disasters , such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill . Data collected by Mussel Watch can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of coastal remediation . The Mussel Watch Program utilized its 20 years of monitoring data to effectively analyze the impacts of Hurricane Katrina and has affected regulatory decisions based on the data it has collected on bivalve parasites
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Mussel Watch Program