CAUSE AND EFEECT

How do oil spills occur?

Oil Spills may happen for several reasons.

1. When oil tankers have equipment faults. When oil tankers break down, it may get stuck on shallow land. When the tanker is attempted to move out of shallow land, abrasion may cause a hole in the tanker that will lead to large amounts of oil being released into the oceanic bodies. However, although this form of oil spill is the most commonly known and has the highest media attention, only 2% of oil in water bodies is a result of this action.

2. From nature and human activities on land. The large majority of oil spilled is from natural seeps geological seeps from the ocean floor as well as leaks that occur when products using petroleum or various forms of oil are used on land, and the oil is washed off into water bodies.

3. Water Sports. Other causes of oil spills are spills by petroleum users of released oil. This happens when various water sports or water vehicles such as motorboats and jet skis leak fuel.

4. Drilling works carried out in sea. When drilling works carried out in the sea, the oil and petroleum used for such activities are released into the sea, thus causing an oil spill.

What are the effects of oil spills?

Such oil spills are considered forms of pollution. Oil spills also have highly adverse effects on the environment. These oil spills greatly affect animals, which may in turn sometimes lead to animals getting endangered. Animals may be affected because oil spills may cause hypothermia, inducing low body temperatures. Oil may also enter the lungs or livers of animals, in turn poisoning the animals. Oil may also kill animals by blinding them, affecting their natural predator prey instincts, resulting in which they will be unaware of their predators, and will eventually be preyed on.

Effects on fauna in the sea

Seabirds are strongly affected by oil spills. When they get covered in oil, the heavy oil weights down the birds and is unable to fly. Often, the bird will then attempt to rid itself of the oil lining, and will eat the oil. As the oil is poisonous, the bird will either die or suffer greatly from being poisoned. All these lead to the bird’s inability to carry out its natural life processes such as hunting for food, and eventually, the bird will die, unless it is rescued and given proper treament. Furthermore, the oil penetrates and opens up the bird’s plumage, reducing its insulation activity and making it susceptible to hypothermia and temperature fluctuations, as well as less buoyant in the water.

Another group of animals strongly affected by oil spills are the Sea Otters. Otters have air bubbles located in the fur of their bodies which enable them to float and survive the cold waters. When oil spills occur, oil covers the otter’s bodies and often covers these air holes. As a result, otters may die of hypothermia, are unable to swim properly, and eventually die.

The third group of animals affected strongly are Killer Whales. Oil spills have led to the endangering of killer whales. Oil affects the killer whales in two ways. Firstly, it plugs up the blowholes of the killer whales, and the killer whale will be unable to breathe. Secondly, the Killer Whale may eat fish that swam through the oil, or fish already poisoned by the oil, and the killer whales too will get poisoned by the oil, and will die.

 

Lastly, oil spills affect small organisms. Oil spills affect small organisms living in the sea, such as plankton, and larval fish, as well as bottom-dwelling organisms like oysters, seaweed, mussels. When these organisms die due to the oil, this affects the food chain,. Fish who prey on these animals will have difficulty finding food, and may die. This will in turn affect their predators and so on.

Studies have shown that the environmental damage of oil spills are far greater than originally thought. The hydrocarbons in petroleum-based oil is able to negatively impact marine life at concentrations as low as one part per billion. The heavier components of crude oil such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons cause the most damage. Although being less toxic then lighter components such as benzene and toluene, unlike these components they are not volatile and do not evaporate easily. The oil mixes deeply into pebbles or sandy beaches, and remains there for months or years.

Effects on plants in the sea

Oil Spills also affect marine plants. The oil forms a thick layer on the water surface, and this layer blocks out light and prevents gaseous exchange. When this happens, not only will the plants not be able to photosynthesise, animals underneath the affected area will find that the supply of oxygen slowly diminishes, and is unable to be continuously replenished by the environment. When plants cannot photosynthesise, they eventually die, leading to a vicious effect on the food chain, ultimately affecting all animals.

In conclusion, the dangers oil spills pose to the environment are numerous and highly dangerous, hence, greater effort should be taken to ensure such oil spills are minimized in the future.