Oil PollutionBy Kayla Benson

Abstract

References

Clean Up/Prevention

Causes/Occurrences

2010 Deepwater Horizon/BP

Oil Spill

Adverse Affects on

Ecosystem/Marine Life

In the event of an oil spill either the US Coast Guard or the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA). This is dependent on the location in the United

States where the incident occurs and determines who takes control of the

response efforts. With spills of any magnitude organization are often recruited

to help with the clean up efforts such as Fish and Wildlife, NOAA’s Response

and Restoration along with volunteers and other organizations.

No two incidents are the same and different methods might be used depending

on the severity of the spill. The oil that is released can range from thin to very

think each causing damages. It is important to contain the affected area (s) as

quickly as possible to avoid it spreading. There are multiple techniques and

long processes to remove and restore the environment after oil is released into

the ocean. Some of the more is the burning the oil. This is most commonly

used to stop the spreading of the oil but the downside of this method is the

toxic fumes from the smoke being released into the environment. Another way

is using booms and skimmers. Booms are used as another form of containment

to prevent the oil from spreading. Skimmers help to remove the oil off the

surface. But this method only works on lighter oils. Thicker oil this method is

useless. There are different absorbent methods that are conducted, some

include sorbents that act like sponges to remove the oil from the surface.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to use what are called dispensers. This is a

form of fertilizer that helps speed up the growth of organisms that naturally

breakdown oil enzymes. This method is quite effective. Sometimes depending

on the magnitude of the spill or leakage the oil can disperse and dissolve by

natural elements. This often occurs with very small gradual cases.

Some environmentalists have come up with safer more natural ways to help

get rid of the oil. Some of these include oil eating mushrooms, nylons filled

with hair, pine shavings, etc.

The oil spill that happened in 2010 off the Gulf of Mexico is recorded to be the

largest accidental spill to date in the world. As a result the devastation was

enormous. BP Macondo oil rigs blowout was responsible for the catastrophe and

killed approximately 11 crew members as well as impacted numerous fisherman,

the marine animals, and contaminated multiple marshes and beaches. The

containment of the spill took from April 20 to July 15, when it was finally capped

but the damage had already been done. Almost three years later there is still

evidence of the impacts of the disaster. Over that period of time 185,000,000

gallons of oil was dispersed into the ocean. The amount of resources that is

needed clean up such an event takes. The circumstances revolving around the

blowout brought out many speculations and concerns about offshore drilling and

more precautions need to be implemented to avoid a repeat occurrence. With the

Oil Protection Act of 1990, BP is held responsible and is responsible for clean up

efforts as well as financial repercussions caused by the spill. With combined

efforts the US Coast Guard took control of the response efforts to insure proper

clean up. Multiple resources were needed beyond BP and the Coast Guard to

ensure success, among these included organizations like the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and different commissioned Response

teams. Part of the problem why the process was so costly and lengthy was the

lack of preparations and details in BP Contingency Plan.

Oil Spills have the ability to cause a wide variety of impacts on the

environment and marine life. Every oil spill is different because oil is made up

of a chemical mixtures and there are lots of variables that come into play as far

as thickness and toxicity levels not to mention the amount of oil that is

distributed into the ocean and shorelines. Other factors that come into account

is what methods are used in the clean up process. It is important to realize the

consequences and damages that are being caused by using oil and determine

better practices to avoid these type of events.

In all comes down to how fast the spill is contained along with how quickly

the pollutants become diluted or dissipate. Every environment is different and

responds differently. Some ecosystems can never fully recover from a disaster

or takes years to show any improvement.

Mangroves/Marshes/Shorelines

According to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPE),

shorelines are exposed the most to oil than any other marine environment (6).

Thankfully most of the flora and fauna have high tolerances due to the variety

of impacts that happen on shorelines. With salt marshes the time of year is

critical in the recovery time. This is due to plant growth and the amount of

exposure that happens. Clean up can be just as dangerous because it is difficult

to avoid additional damage caused by trampling or removal of contaminates.

Whatever is done to help preserve and restore the area the best chance for

regrowth and recovery is to make sure that the bulbs and roots remain

undamaged or limited exposures to chemicals. Mangroves because of their

biodiversity are extremely vulnerable to oil pollution. Loss of habitat has a

direct effects on the living organisms within the environment.

Fish/Seabirds/Mammals/Reptiles

Most freeswimming fish have the ability to avoid concentrations of oil spills.

Mortality occurs when large concentrations mixed with other conditions such

as storms. It effects fisheries and aquaculture more due to the lack of space and

confinement that fish cannot swim away from the oil. Seabirds experience

both external and internal problems when it comes to oil. Birds naturally preen

themselves as a cleaning mechanism and in doing so many birds ingest the oil

that collects on their feathers. This can cause permanent damage to the

respiratory system and reproductive system. When the feathers are smothered

in oil it affects their ability to fly, buoyancy, and insulation. This can cause the

birds to get hypothermia. A good number of birds do not survive the cleaning

but those that do survive and are able to reproduced. One species that fares

better than the rest happens to be penguins. Mammals are different in that they

live underwater but must surface for air. Most often oil damages the eyes

. When it comes to oil pollution in the ocean people are more familiar with

leaks from oil tankers and oil drilling. These types of oil spills are more

widely known because of the amount of exposure that comes along with

these types of incidents. The truth is oil is released into the ocean multiple

ways some even naturally. The only difference is the amount that is being

distributed into the water. Oil can also come form natural seepage that is

the result of tectonic plates shifting beneath the ocean floor.. These

activities usually don’t cause too much damage and are naturally

dissipated. When it becomes an issue is when man made oil rigs drill into

the plates and cause what is know as a “blowout”. Other ways involve

boats, recreational equipment and even runoff contributes to marine oil

pollution. Though it has been shown that the amount of spills in the ocean

from tankers has decreased over the years they still cause significant

damage each time. With the demand for oil and the profitability that

comes along with it oil transport and drilling will occur along with the

occasional accident. Most of the incidents that happen tend to be accident

but there are those that are intentional such as illegal dumping. Though

large amounts at one time causes damage even little contaminations done

over time can produce just as much of a affect if not worse. This is a result

of not being aware of when or where the dumping is occurring. Tighter

rules and regulations along with enforce can help reduce the pollution that

is destroying the ocean and its wildlife

•Beaumont, P. (2012, Apr 01). National: Two years on, dolphins and coral still paying high price for gulf oil disaster: Studies are revealing that the impact of the deepwater horizon spill on marine life in the gulf of mexico and nearby coastline may be far worse than first thought. The Observer. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/963435665?accountid=38871•GPA: Global Marine Oil Pollution Information Gateway. Facts on Oil: Sources. http://oils.gpa.unep.org/facts/sources.htm•Griggs, J. W. (2011). Bp gulf of mexico oil spill. Energy Law Journal, 32(1), 57-79. Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com/docview/869071045?accountid=38871

•International Tankers Owners Pollution Federation Limited. Technical Informational Paper: Effects of Oil Pollution on the

Marine Environment. http://www.itopf.com/information-services/publications/documents/TIP13EffectsofOilPollutionontheMarineEnvironment.pdf•Jernelöv, A. (2010). The threats from oil spills: Now, then, and in the future. Ambio, 39(5), 353-66. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/856979339?accountid=38871•Toscano , Paul and Daniel Bukszpan (2010, June 09). 17 Ways to Clean Up the Gulf Oil Spill.http://www.cnbc.com/id/37593652/page/11

This is an example

of the process

bacteria breaks

down oil and

dissolves into the

ocean.

http://www.pbs.org/

newshour/science/in

teractives/20100708

_bacteria.html

Bp is known for being energy efficient so when the Deep Horizon incident occurred many felt in the company was completely the opposite. There were contests to

“redesign the companies logo. This is one of those submissions. The other illustration is a depiction and timeline of the events that occurred with the Deep Horizon spill.

http://inhabitat.com/redesigned-bp-logos-depict-the-gulf-oil-slick/http://www.thedailygreen.com//cm/thedailygreen/images/Oi/deep-water-rig-infographic-world.jpg

Dawn is one of the

most recognized

companies that helps

contribute to oil clean

up and its product

directly being

involved in the

process. This picture

is part of Dawn’s ad

campaign in wildlife

protection.

http://www.adweek.c

om/news/advertising-

branding/dawn-oil-

spill-ad-crowned-

most-effective-

107539

The ocean is a vast and majestic place that is home to multiple

organisms and wildlife. It is important to understand the

ramifications of marine oil pollution . Who is responsible,

what causes it and can be done to fix the issue. There are two

outlooks to what oil provides, it is black gold or it is death.

Unfortunately when oil is seeped into the ocean the damages

that occur are drastic and the resources needed to clean up and

protect the environment is extremely costly. Oil can be

released into the environment different ways some include

blowouts, tankers, runoff and by natural seeping. The result

destroys the lives of animals such as dolphins, birds, and even

corals that either kills or takes years to see improvement from a

major incident. To date the worst accident in US history was

the BP Blowout in 2010. Better steps and precautions need to

be taken to ensure accidents like the Deep Horizon Oil Spill

doesn’t happen again.