Natural Disasters : Oil Spills

The Thunnus Thynnus (Atlantic Tuna) was altogether troubled by the spill. A mind-boggling blend of various chemicals are hazardous to marine life, particularly the Tuna. Even at low fixations, detrimental impacts and irregularities from the norm appear to influence larva and the fully developed. Amos (2014) found that polyaromatic hydrocarbons can be hurtful to the hearts fish. These particles make fish heart lethargic, and can even cause heart failure. (Tuna hearts affected by oil spill, Science and Environment, BBC News).

Out of all of these ways, oil spills can cause a noticeably excessive amount of damage to the ocean. Although only 12% of the oil entering the sea is caused by spills, they can deteriorate ocean life and environment more than any other pollution. One gallon of used oil spilled into the ocean, which contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals severely dangerous to the micro-organism at the base of the food chain, can cause an eight-acre layer

One of the most endangered species of the sea were also affected by the oil spills of the gulf, sea turtles. Turtles covered in oil were at risk of breathing the toxins of the oil, potentially damaging their respiratory system. Texas residents report that dead sea turtles continue to wash up. Although it is estimated that about 6,000 sea turtles have been harmed by the oil spill, only 1,146 have been officially collected.

The oil spills results of shipping accidents play a significant role in increasing the pollution. For example, in the 3rd of April 2010 4 tonnes of oil was spilled into the water.

Oil spills suffocate marine life to death, and is extremely bad for the environment. “Wherever oil is consumed, such as in manufacturing or when loading a ship with fuel, there are opportunities for oil spills (Noaa).” Oil spills are extremely harmful to marine birds and mammals as well as fish and shellfish. Oil spills also contribute to habitat loss as it also can ruin and eventually destroy ocean habitats, causing wildlife to lose their homes. “But such publicized events account for only a small part of the total amount of oil pollution in the oceans—and many of the other sources, such as automobile oil, go largely unnoticed, scientists say.

Oil spill pollution, a severe environmental problem which arouses in a marine environment or in the water bodies, has grown into an alarming scale with the increase in oil production and transportation. Causes are either accidental or due to operational failure. Henceforth, it is almost impossible for marine life not to be a victim of this vulnerable zone. Our planet has the largest oil reserves, occasionally it cracks and rarely causes a major accident. However, human interference causes a devastating damage to marine and ecosystem.

oil spill happened five years ago and nearly 5 barrels of oil was spilt into the Gulf of Mexico. The oil spill was caused from an explosion through the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig about 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana. The main effect from this oil spill was the losses of the animals. Causing many to almost go extinct. As a result from the oil spill the earth has had—losses from pollution, the cost, and the damage of people.

Primary pollutants detected consisted mostly of hydrocarbons that were emitted into the atmosphere from evaporated or burned oil on the water surface, and nitrogen oxides, emitted by both the flaring of the natural gas and from the clean-up processes close near the spill site. Once in the atmosphere, these compounds photochemically reacted to produce secondary pollutants such as Ozone and peroxacetyl nitrates (PANs) (Middlebrook et al., 2011). Other pollutants were also detected, such as secondary organic aerosols (SOA), a product of intermediate volatile organic compounds, and soot particles, black carbon and carbon monoxide from in situ burning of oil or from the cleanup processes (Gouw et al., 2011).

Oil spills are notorious environmental hazards. Spills are costly to clean up, and they impact hundreds of

Examination of this article will show what chemicals have been introduced into the gulf waters and the potential impact if left untreated. The disastrous effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil leak have caused a significant impact on our marine and mammal seafaring wildlife. Many private and governmental research institute studies were conducted immediately upon contamination and leakage of the oil flow into the Gulf of Mexico. Extensive studies were conducted over the course of the months before the capping of the oil well. To this day continued research studies have been conducted in the 6 years following the oil spill. Analyzing the impacts and effects of the oil spill, and the changes it has made to our environment and the ecosystem with in the gulf itself.

The oil and refined products are a mixture of various hydrocarbons and other compounds whose physical and chemical properties vary; during an oil spill, the composite determines the behavior and impact on the environmental elements such as physical, biological, ecosystem, and the economical impact. During this Case Study I will continue to discuss the characteristics of each affected ecosystem including organisms commonly found in the Deepwater Horizon Spill affected area, potential threats based on their relative location to the spill, and the economic impact of damages in these communities.

Resulting in what is referred to as an ocean slick a thin layer of oil over the water it has contaminated,when animals swallow the contaminated water it can poison them mainly bottom dwellers and fish who, can develop diseases and reproductive problems. After the spill there are many steps in containing the oil spill is getting animals out of the area using traps designed to scare them so they flee into where the people running

In Santa Barbara, California, in 1969, even though the spilled oil was not even very large, thousands of dolphins, seals, and birds were killed (Ivanovich, and Hays, 2008). Moreover, in the Gulf of Mexico, 82,000 birds, roughly 6,165 sea turtles, approximately 25,900 marine mammals, and indefinite amount of oysters, fishes, corals, and crabs have been harmed or killed by the spilled oil. Additionally, the spilled has killed many aquatic plants. ( A Center for Biological Diversity Report, 2008). As a result, vegetation, which are the most essential part of the ecological pyramid, and other animals will be affected negatively by the dangerous impact of the spilled oil, which probably is going to cause some problems in the ecological pyramid. In fact, any defect in the ecological pyramid may become a dreadful problem that occurs an ecological

The oil also has a physical and physiological effect including irritation, inflammation, or necrosis of the skin, chemical burns, ingestion of oil/dispersants can lead to inflammation, ulcers, bleeding, as well as possible damage to liver, kidneys, and brain tissue. It can also cause disfunction of the immune and reproductive system. The wildlife can become physiologically stressed, their physical condition will ultimately decline, and some may even die. The oil spill has additionally had an extensive effect on the ecosystem as a whole. An ecosystem can be defined as a biological environment consisting of all the organism living in a particular area, as well as the non-living physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact. Experts predict that the ecosystem could require years or even decades to fully recover since there is a chance of biomagnification. Biomagnification occurs once a PBT(Persistent Bioaccumalative substances) have piled up in one part of the ecosystem the substance becomes concentrated from one link in the food web to the next. It can affect entire populations and threaten biodiversity in “insidious, sub-lethal” ways. In addition to the possibility of biomagnification the oil causes

The effect of oil spill is usually calculated in terms of damage on the environment, aftermath on marine species, and effect on the tourism and fishery industries. The impact on human health is less known relatively. The financial costs associated with oil spills are also a factor. Arguably, it is a less serious consequence of an Oil Spill, however the financial costs have the potential to bankrupt an organization. BP suffered major financial loss as a result of the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. They have paid up to $1.5 billion in an effort to settle various claims and compensation. (BP, n.d)