OIL SPILL

WHAT ARE OIL SPILLS?

• An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment especially marine areas, due to human activity and is the form of pollution. Oil spills maybe due to release of crude oil, off shore platforms, drilling rigs, and wells as well as spills of refined petroleum products. Cleanup of oil spill is difficult and depends upon many factors. It may take weeks, months or even years.

EFFECTS OF

OIL SPILLS

Major Effects of Oil Spills

• Local industries• Human health• Marine ecosystem including

animal and plant life• Vegetation & mangroves• Effect on marine life• Damage Beaches, Marshlands

and Fragile Marine Ecosystems

Local industries• Tourist as

fishing, swimming or sailing

• Industries that rely on fresh sea water

• Devices used to catch fish cannot be used for fear of damaging them in area that have had an oil spill

Human health• Inhalation of vapor,

touching oil slicks and consuming contaminated sea food

• Causes neurological, acute toxic effects, ocular (eye) and also problems of respiratory system

• Nausea, throat infections, nose and eye irritations, etc. along with migraines and headaches.

Marine Ecosystem including animal and

plant life• Spread of oil slick• Movement

(waves)and weather (cold , low energy, little water movement)

• Area effected i.e. Estuaries/ foreshore

• Proximity to bird breeding colony

Vegetation• Root areas of plants

may be harmful• Living coral is also

vulnerable to oil slicks. If the living coral dies, then the reef of coral can be destroyed by wave erosion.

• A thick coating of oil on the leaves does almost no damage if it occurs outside the growing season.

MANGROVES• Salt tolerant tress and

shrubs and provide habitat for sea birds, crabs, oysters, breeding ground for birds

• Their complex root system stabilizes and sediment, preventing soil erosion

• They obtain oxygen through lenticels on aerial roots, which may become clogged and stop oxygen supply

• There may be long term loss of habitat

Effect on Marine Life• Oil, or hydrocarbons, can

affect plants and animals in different ways.

• Physical effects on marine birds and mammals is through smothering, where oil coats the outside of their bodies, covering feathers and fur.

• Toxic compounds from the spilt oil can be ingested by animals directly, in their prey, as they breath

WATER ANIMALS

AQUATIC PLANTS

Marine Mammals• Marine mammals are

vulnerable to oil spills because of their amphibious habits and their dependence on air.

• The rough skin surface, body hair and grooming habits of some species increase the possibility of oil contact, ingestion and associated toxicological effects.

Oil Spills Damage Beaches, Marshlands and Fragile Marine Ecosystems

• Absorption of oil by fibrous plants and grasses

• Effects on fragile underwater ecosystems

• Killing or contaminating many fish and smaller organisms that are essential links in the global food chain.

Cleaning & RecoveryOn the shore In the water

On the shore• Bioremediatio

n

• Manual treatment

• Mechanical treatment

In the water• Boom• Burning• Spreading of chemicals• Skimming• Sorbents Natural organic sorbents Natural inorganic sorbents  Synthetic sorbents• Shovels

Boom

Burning

Spreading of chemicals

Skimming

Sorbents

Shovels

LIST OF FOUR MAJOR OIL SPILLS

IN HISTORY • The Torrey canyon oil spill - march 18, 1967. 25 - 36 million gallons

• The sea star oil spill - December 19, 1972. 35.3 million gallons

• Odyssey oil spill - November 10, 1988. 40.7 million gallons

• M/T haven tanker oil spill - April 11, 1991. 45 million gallons

The Torrey Canyon Oil Spill - March 18, 1967.

25 - 36 million gallons

The Sea Star Oil Spill – December 19, 1972.35.3 million gallons

Odyssey Oil Spill – November 10, 1988.

40.7 million gallons

M/T Haven Tanker Oil Spill – April 11, 1991.

45 million gallons

THE EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL

CASE STUDY

• Leakage of massive crude oil in PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND

• Polluted the environment around Alaska

• Negative impact on sea life• People had a fear to travel to

Alaska

PROBLEMS FACED

Cleaning • Scientists and biologists started working to get new methods for cleaning

• People started helping the animals affected in sound