It leaked from the oil refinery at Duque de Caxias (REDUC) operated by Petrobras.
[2] In addition, the aquatic plant life had also begun to die off and become non existent due to the oil resting on the surface of the water.
The cost of the clean-up exceeded just monetary value as it also affected the individuals that relied on the welfare of the bay.
The company experienced great losses in the cleaning up process as they had to compensate for damages and were fined heavily by the Brazilian government.
Almost 4000 fishermen - more than half - that had previously been employed to fish at the Guanabara Bay had to resort to alternative methods of income and working odd jobs to support their families.