| Oil spill effects are so alarming that an oil spill is | | | | They can also alter their metabolic activity and shell |
| considered to be a serious environmental catastrophe. | | | | development. These invertebrates may accumulate |
| Annually, millions of gallons of oil are discharged into the | | | | high levels of toxins in their bodies, which get passed |
| oceans due to careless handling, natural calamities, off | | | | on to their predators when they are eaten. Fish tend to |
| shore oil drilling, and terrorist activities. In addition to | | | | ingest large amounts of oil through their gills, which |
| having has disastrous effects on the environment, an | | | | seriously affects the health of their eggs and larva. In |
| oil spill is often lethal to wildlife. Oil is classified into five | | | | adult fish, an oil spill may cause damage like reduced |
| groups, namely very light, light, medium, heavy, and | | | | growth, improper heart and respiration rates, fin |
| very heavy oil. Short-term oil spill effects include tarred | | | | erosion, and reproductive mutilation. Oil spills can even |
| coastlines and sea shores, dead or injured flora and | | | | destroy the insulation capacity of a marine bird’s |
| fauna, and contaminated water. With the passage of | | | | feathers or a mammal’s fur, which leads to death |
| time, oil spills that are not cleaned can ultimately | | | | by hypothermia. When oil is ingested by these species, |
| destroy the surrounding ecosystem. | | | | it leads to damage of the lungs, liver, and kidneys, |
| Effects of Oil Spills on Water: In water, oil spreads into | | | | followed by death. |
| a thin layer on the water surface. This thin layer or film | | | | Effects of Oil Spills on Land: |
| of oil is called a sheen. When dispersed in water, oil | | | | Oil spills on farms or grassy land will lead to the |
| undergoes a process called withering. With the | | | | choking of plant life. Plant life is so detrimentally |
| exposure to air, sunlight, wave, and tidal action, the | | | | affected because the soil will lose its ability to absorb |
| toxic effects of the dispersed oil gradually reduces. | | | | water. Light oil seeps into top soil quickly, rapidly |
| Oil Spill Effects on Marine Animals and Plants | | | | percolates, and then contaminates groundwater. On |
| Aquatic wildlife and their habitats are affected by oil | | | | the other hand, heavier oil with a high viscosity rate |
| spills by means of physical contact, ingestion, | | | | penetrates slowly. Terrestrial oil spills seriously affects |
| absorption, and inhalation. The oil spill causes damage | | | | the fertility of soil, often making it unfit for vegetation. |
| to the entire aquatic food chain. Suspended oil on the | | | | Oil spill cleanup methods: |
| water contaminates plankton, algae, larvae, and fish | | | | Several oil spill cleanup methods are used both on land |
| eggs, which are consumed by small fish species. This | | | | and water. Some of the most common oil spill |
| contamination is then passed on to larger fish, bears, | | | | management techniques are booms, skimmers, |
| aquatic birds, and even humans. The growth and | | | | sorbents, chemical dispersants, biological agents, and |
| germination of marine plants are affected by oil spills | | | | in-situ burning. Eco-friendly oil spill management requires |
| as well. When exposed to oil spills, some species of | | | | the use of bioremediation. Bioremediation is a technique |
| marine algae and seaweed may even perish. | | | | that uses living organisms like bacteria and fungi to |
| Oil spills can cause marine invertebrates to choke. | | | | degrade oil contaminated soil or water. |