Sentence Correction

In the Gulf of Mexico's 'dead zone,' every summer aquatic life is smothered in an area as large as the state of New Jersey, <which, according to scientists, is caused by excess nitrogen flushed down the Mississippi River.>

A) which, according to scientists, is caused by excess nitrogen flushed down the Mississippi River.

B) which scientists say is caused by excess nitrogen flushed down the Mississippi River.

C) the cause of which, according to scientists, is excess nitrogen flushed down the Mississippi River.

D) the cause of which is excess nitrogen flushed down the Mississippi River say the scientists.

E) that comes from the flushing of excess nitrogen down the Mississippi River, according to scientists.

In the Gulf of Mexico's 'de@d zone,' every summer aquatic life is smothered in an area as large as the state of New Jersey, <which, according to scientists, is caused by excess nitrogen flushed down the Mississippi River.>

A) which, according to scientists, is caused by excess nitrogen flushed down the Mississippi River.-which modifies New Jersey instead of aquantic life smothering-

B) which scientists say is caused by excess nitrogen flushed down the Mississippi River..-which modifies New Jersey instead of aquantic life smothering-


C) the cause of which, according to scientists, is excess nitrogen flushed down the Mississippi River.-I think here which is used instead of smothering in the area so this sentence is the correct one-

D) the cause of which is excess nitrogen flushed down the Mississippi River say the scientists.-after which we need comma because here the cause of which is ... distorts the meaning-
E) that comes from the flushing of excess nitrogen down the Mississippi River, according to scientists.[/quote]-, and that cannot be used together that introduce a clause which contains subject verb and additional things i.e adverbs OUT-

What's the OA ?

C for me too..well explained above

C it is...

perfect stanger, what is the fundae you were putting for the usage of "that"

In C, how are the two clauses connected after a , isn't it a case of run on sentence?