Oil Spills: How our fuel is destroying the Ocean

Man-made activities have accelerated the rate of ocean pollution. The oil spill is the quickest way to destroy our oceans. A large volume of petroleum products gets leaked into the ocean result in a spill. The oil spills mostly occur due to tankers, cargo accidents, oil platforms and wells. When an oil spill

occurs in a coastal area than it also harms humans. But these spills have a greater effect on marine species than humans. Humans might stop the potential damage from the oil spills but marine species cannot. They are the ones who suffered the most due to such accidents. However, these spills also occur due to natural reasons.

In fact, about 40 to 50% of the total oil released into the ocean is from the natural seeps from the seafloor rocks. This means approx. 600,000 tonnes of oil is released into the ocean due to natural reasons. However, these releases have very little damage because these are natural processes and are part of the ecosystem. It is discovered that special bacterias have been grown near the area of natural spills to digest the oil molecules.

The real problem is oil tanker accidents. Almost 8 to 15% of total oil release is due to oil tanker accidents. The main reasons for such accidents are sinking, collision (in most of the cases), mishandling etc. The reason for increasing tanker accidents is because around 90% of the world's oil is transported through waterways (i.e. excess use of oil tankers). These tankers have the capacity to transport hundreds of tonnes of oil. Another man-made reason for oil disposal is pipelines. However, most pipeline accidents occur on land. Only 1% of total oil disposal into the ocean is due to pipelines. 

During an oil spill, oil is exposed to the open ocean. It floats over the water or sinks and settles on the ocean bed, depending on the relative density of that oil. Waves and wind spread the oil, hence blanketing a large area. Some volatile organic components of oil will evaporate while some of them will dissolve in the ocean. Sometimes the organic components in the oil react with water and form hard thick tar-like material. This will undergo biodegradation, but it takes a lot of time to naturally degrade such a large volume of oil under and on the surface of the water. The consequences of large oil spills will be felt for decades on ecosystems. 

What are the effects of oil spills on marine animals?

The oil molecules can penetrate into the feathers of birds and skin or gills of fishes. This makes their immune system very weak and more vulnerable to diseases. Even a small change in temperature can now effect is contaminated animals. A thick layer of oil can be formed on the sea bed plants and algae. Those plants and algae will have no chance of recovery because they will be completely covered with oil. The extent of damage from an oil spill depends on the location and time of the spill. Sometimes a very spill at a certain location and at a certain season can be more dangerous and harmful than a larger spill at another location or in another season. If the spill occurred in an area with high population of sensitive fishes or plants, then it will be much more dangerous and will take more work on recovery. 

Also, the strong smell of crude oil is harmful to baby fishes. This smell can damage their ability to communicate with their parents. If they are exposed to this foul smell for a long time then they might die. The oil deposited on the feathers of birds reduces the ability to fly. Almost all the birds clean their body through their beaks. During this process, they might ingest the oil components deposited on their feathers. This will directly damage their kidney, liver or digestive tract and eventually, they will die. 

The deposition of oil on the body also damages marine mammals like seals and sea otters. The deposited oil act as an insulating layer. It can change the body temperature and increases the risks of hypothermia in these mammals. These mammals might ingest the oil particles, leading to dehydration and organ damage. 

The oil spill can be considered as one of the most dangerous ocean accidents. The process of recovery also takes a lot of time. Also, the process of recovery is very costly. It takes about $14,000 to $15,000 per tonne for cleanup and recovery after an oil spill. The proper maintenance of oil tankers and platforms can reduce the chances of oil spills. The spill not only damages the ecosystem but is also a large waste of natural resources. Hundreds of tonnes of natural oil are lost in a single spill. Hence economically and ecologically, oil spills are very harmful.