What is Oil Spill ?

What is Oil Spill ?

• An oil spill is the release of a liquidpetroleum hydrocarbon into theenvironment, especially marine areas, due tohuman activity, and is a form of pollution.

sources

• Oil spills may be due to releases of crude oil from :– Tankers

– offshore platforms

– drilling rigs and wells, as well as spills of refined petroleum products (such as gasoline, diesel) and their by-products, heavier fuels used by large ships such as bunker fuel, or the spill of any oily refuse or waste oil. Another signifant route by which oil enters the marine environment is through natural oil seeps

•Oil spills can be controlled by :– chemical dispersion

– combustion (burn)

– mechanical containment, and/or adsorption.

• Spills may take weeks, months or even years to clean up

Environmental Effects• The oil penetrates into the structure of the plumage of

birds and animals, reducing its insulating ability, thus making the birds more vulnerable to temperature fluctuations and much less buoyant in the water.

• impairs or disables birds' flight abilities to forage and escape from predators.

• As they attempt to preen, birds typically ingest oil that covers their feathers, causing kidney damage, altered liver function, and digestive tract irritation.

• This and the limited foraging ability quickly causes dehydration and metabolic imbalances. Hormonal balance alteration including changes in luteinizing protein can also result in some birds exposed to petroleum

• Oil coats the fur of Sea otters and seals, reducing itsinsulation abilities and leading to body temperaturefluctuations and hypothermia.

• Ingestion(swallow) of the oil causes dehydrationand impaired digestions.

• Because oil floats on top of water, less sunlightpenetrates into the water, limiting the photosynthesisof marine plants and phytoplankton.

•This, as well as decreasing the fauna populations, affects the food chain in the ecosystem.

• Oil may also cause the death of an animal by entering the animal’s lungs or liver. The animal will then be poisoned by the oil.

• Oil also can kill an animal by blinding it. The animal will not be able to see and be aware of their predators. If they are not aware of other animals, they may be eaten.

Impact of oil on organisms

• Birds and furred mammals– Loss of insulating properties– Ingestion of toxic substances

(esp. when grooming)– Inhalation of toxic volatile

hydrocarbons• Marine mammals

– Skin irritation– Clogging of baleen plates

Impact of oil on organisms

•Marine turtles

– Disturbance to nesting habitat

•Special habitats

– coral reefs

– tidal flats

– mangrove forests

Impact of oil on fisheries

•Loss of breeding habitats

•Accumulation of toxins•Poor taste•Impacts on sport fishing

Oil spills also have major economic impacts by effecting marine tourism

Cleanup and Recovery

• Cleanup and recovery from an oil spill is difficult

and depends upon many factors:

– including the type of oil spilled.

– the temperature of the water (affecting evaporation

and biodegradation).

– and the types of shorelines and beaches involved.

Methods for cleaning up include:

1. Bioremediation: use of microorganisms or biological agents to break down or remove oil.

2. Controlled burning can effectively reduce the amount of oil in water, if done properly.But it can only be done in low wind and can cause air pollution.

3. Dredging: for oils dispersed with detergents and other oils denser than water.

4. Skimming(كشط): Requires calm waters.

Equipment used includes

• Booms: large floating barriers that round up oil and lift the oil off the water

• Skimmers: skim the oil

• Sorbents: large absorbents that absorb oil

• Chemical and biological agents: helps to break down the oil

• Vacuums: remove oil from beaches and water surface

• Shovels and other road equipments: typically used to clean up oil on beaches [

•

America’s Worst Oil Spill

March 24, 1989 The Exxon Valdez oil tanker scraped along a rocky ocean reef in Alaska cutting open the hull of the ship. Thousands of tons of oil spilled into the ocean - enough to fill a football stadium.

Damaging Effects of Oil Spills

• Oil on the water’s surface can catch on fire and pollute the air.• Oil can sink to the ocean floor and destroy the habitats of sea

animals.• Oil can react with oxygen in the air to form acids that are carried

by wind and eventually fall back to the ground as acid rain.• Oil washes up on beaches and marshes resulting in life

threatening habitats for wildlife species.• Sea turtles, birds, whales, fish, otters and other animals can

become oil-soaked and die.• Dear, bears, wolves, dogs, and cats can die from eating oil-

soaked beach plants and animal carcasses.

Oil clogs the spaces between a bird’s feathers, making it impossible for them to fly. Many birds drown and sink in the ocean, never making it to the beaches.

Cleaning oiled birds is not always successful. The birds are weak from struggling in the oil and may be ill from digesting oil while trying to clean their feathers.

ظهر الفساد في البر والبحر بما كسبت أيدي الناسقل ليذيقهم بعض الذي عملوا لعلهم يرجعون

سيروا في الأرض فانظروا كيف كان عاقبة الذين من قبل كان أكثرهم مشركين

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