Oil spills and the Environment

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Bureau of Laboratories

What is Oil?

• Oil is a fossil fuel found beneath the earth’s surface. It is drilled and refined for many purposes:• Gasoline• Diesel• Jet Fuel• Plastics

• Oil is a hydrocarbon chain majorly made of two atomic elements: • carbon (C) and hydrogen (H)

C C C C

H

HHH

HHH

H

HH

Properties of Oil

• Oil is less dense than water, so oil floats on the surface of water.

• When light particles hit oil, light rays refract and make a rainbow pattern, as seen in the picture on the left.

• Oil, such as gasoline, and its vapors are highly flammable and toxic.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/phyopt/oilfilm.htmlhttps://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/11498

What happens when Oil Spills?

• ,

http://www.arabianoilandgas.com/article-17715-kuwaiti-authority-says-oil-spills-contained/https://www.studentenergy.org/topics/ff-transporthttps://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills

• Oil is drilled then transported across the ocean by tankers or pipelines, which move the oil across the ocean, to refineries or straight to the market.

• When accidents or natural disasters occur, oil leaks into the ocean and spreads across the water and onto nearby lands. This causes harm to the environment and wildlife.

• Oil pollution is challenging to clean up. This process can take months to years.

• National Response Centers respond to protect the public by removing oil and reducing future damage to the environment.

Harmful Effects on the Environment

• Oil spills pollute the natural habitat where animals live • Birds, fish, sea creatures, plants and mammals that live in and near the

water are exposed to oil while swimming, hunting, drinking, and living in the water.

• Oil is poisonous to plants and animals in the ecosystem, which can destroy marine life and the fishing economy

• Oil spills are also dangerous to the public if humans consume fish from oil polluted water

What happens to birds?• Bird feathers repel water and help

birds float above water and fly. Feathers also help birds stay water proof and warm.

• When birds swim, hunt for food, bathe and migrate through oil polluted water, their feathers are coated with oil

• Oil causes feathers to become heavier, which makes it harder for birds to fly or swim

https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/why-are-seabirds-so-vulnerable-oil-spills.html

Oil Spill Experiment #1

• Supplies:• Liquid soap

• Water

• Vegetable oil

• Toothbrush

• Feather

Oil Spill Experiment #1

Absorbed Repelled Changes

Water

Oil

Liquid Soap + Water

1. Dip one feather in water and mark whether the feather absorbed or repelled the liquid.2. Dip another feather in the oil and and mark whether the feather absorbed or repelled the

liquid.3. Pour water on the oil covered feather. What changes happen? Try to wash the oil of the

feather with water and the toothbrush.4. Now, dip the oil covered feather in soapy water, and try to wash off the oil with the

toothbrush. What changes occur?

Which worked the best?

• Water by itself does not remove oil from the feather, but soap does. Why?• Soap is a detergent that breaks

surface tension and oil molecule droplets

• Soap is safe to use on animals with feathers and fur to remove oil

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/business/media/25adco.html

Oil Spill Experiment #2

• Supplies:• Dish of water

• Vegetable oil

• Food coloring

• Cotton balls

• Paper towel

• Cardboard

• Spoon

• Liquid Detergent

1. Add about 4 teaspoons of oil and a few drops of food coloring into the water dish. Stir. • Oil represents the oil spill and food

coloring symbolizes toxic chemicals.

2. Using the cotton balls, paper towel, cardboard and spoon, try to remove the oil droplets.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/simulate-oil-spill-cleanup/

Oil Experiment #2

3. Now add the liquid detergent to the water bowl.

4. Re-try to clean up the oil droplets with the materials used before.

• Questions:• Which method worked the best?

• Was it easier to clean up the oil with or with out the soap?

• What happened to the dye?

https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/spill-containment-methods.html

How are Oil Spills Cleaned Up?

• Methods used prevent oil from spreading and to remove oil from the water include:• Booms: floating barriers that keep the oil spill in an enclosed area.• Skimmers: boats that collect oil from the water's surface.• Burning: sometimes the oil is burned if the weather is calm and the oil spill is

recent.• Dispersants: chemicals, like soaps, are spread over oil spills to break up

droplets on the surface• Microbes: Bacteria can also be used to eat up oil spills

https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/spill-containment-methods.html