What is oil spill article?
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land.
What does oil spills do to the ocean?
Depending on the circumstances, oil spills can be very harmful to marine birds, sea turtles and mammals, and also can harm fish and shellfish. Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the water-repelling abilities of a bird’s feathers, exposing them to the harsh elements.
How much oil has been spilled into the ocean?
Before it was capped three months later, approximately 134 million gallons of oil had spilled into the ocean. That is equivalent to the volume of over 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. An $8.8 billion settlement for restoration was reached in 2016, and restoration is still continuing today.
How are ocean oil spills cleaned up?
Dispersants and booms and skimmers are the most frequently used methods to clean up ocean oil spills. All methods have advantages and disadvantages. The effectiveness depends on the situation – the amount and type of oil, the ocean currents and tides and the weather. Some methods can be harmful to the environment.
How can we prevent oil spills in the ocean?
Don’t overfill fuel tanks – fill to only 90 percent capacity to reduce the chance of spills. Use oil absorbent pads in the bilges of all boats with inboard engines. Regularly inspect through-hull fittings often to reduce the risk of sinking. Recycle used oil and filters.
How does oil spill affect marine life creatures?
Birds, Fish, and Sea Mammals Hypothermia: contact with oil can harm the insulation of feathers and fur, leaving birds, sea otters, and seals vulnerable to hypothermia. Other damage: Marine life’s respiratory, cardiac, and immune systems can be compromised due to oil spills.
How the oil spills in oceans are cleared?
Sometimes, two boats will tow a collection boom, allowing oil to concentrate within the boom, where it is then picked up by a “skimmer.” From whirring disks to floating drums, skimmers come in various designs but all basically work by removing the oil layer from the surface of the water.
How are oil spills prevented?
How do most oil spills happen?
Oil spills into rivers, bays, and the ocean most often are caused by accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, drilling rigs, and storage facilities. Spills can be caused by: people making mistakes or being careless. equipment breaking down.
How do oil spills in the ocean affect humans?
Studies of biomarkers have uncovered irreparable harm to humans exposed to oil and gas from spills. These effects can be grouped into respiratory damage, liver damage, decreased immunity, increased cancer risk, reproductive damage and higher levels of some toxics (hydrocarbons and heavy metals).
How do oil spills affect society?
Oil spills have major environmental and economic effects. Oil spills can also affect human health. People who clean up the spill are more at risk. Problems could include skin and eye irritation, neurologic and breathing problems, and stress.
What are some interesting facts about oil spills?
Interesting Oil Spill Facts: Not all oil spills are by accident. Sometimes oil or oil products are deliberately dumped onto the ground which reaches groundwater sources and pollutes them. Oil spills that occur in the water leave a shiny substance which makes it impossible for marine animals to live.
What are the harmful effects of oil spills?
Oil spills are particularly devastating to species that depend on the health of the ocean for their own survival. The health effects of oil spills include: Hypothermia: contact with oil can harm the insulation of feathers and fur, leaving birds, sea otters, and seals vulnerable to hypothermia.
How do oil spills affect marine life?
Marine life which feeds on this vegetation will in turn struggle to survive. Coatings of oil on the flesh of birds and mammals can literally kill them through suffocation. Oil spills also affect marine life such as birds by stripping the water resistant coating from their feathers.
What is the worst oil spill in history?
The worst oil spill in history, the Gulf War oil spill spewed an estimated 8 million barrels of oil into the Persian Gulf after Iraqi forces opened valves of oil wells and pipelines as they retreated from Kuwait in 1991.