Queen's University Environmental Studies professor Peter Hodson is available to discuss the major oil spill off the coast of Britain.

While exact details of the spill are still breaking, the British Department of Energy and Climate Change said this morning the spill from a Shell oil rig in the North Sea is "substantial."

Dr. Hodson studies the affects of oil spills on fish. He also did research on last year’s Gulf Coast oil spill, studying the rate at which tar balls were releasing chemicals.

To arrange an interview, please contact communication officers Michael Onesi at 613.533.6000 ext. 77513 or michael.onesi@queensu.ca or Christina Archibald at 613-533-2877 or Christina.Archibald@queensu.ca at Queen’s University News and Media Services Department in Kingston, Ont., Canada.

Follow Queen’s News and Media Services on Twitter: http://twitter.com/QueensuMedia

Attention broadcasters: Queen’s has facilities to provide broadcast quality audio and video feeds. For television interviews, we can provide a live, real-time double ender from Kingston via fibre optic cable. Please call for details.