No matter their size, oil spills can have long-lasting effects on the environment. Damage to ecosystem: Oil pollution is a major threat to our ecosystem, especially the aquatic ecosystem. How spilled oil affects near-surface creatures depends on when and where the oil spills—those creatures might or might not even be in the area at the location and time of a spill. Oil spills have negative impacts on the residents of the affected areas. Jason Chavis has been a professional freelance writer since 1998. Ecological impact of oil spills on the aquatic animals depends on the location of the oil spills and also on the sensitivity of the local organisms to oil pollution. “Effects of Petroleum Exposure on Birds: A Review.” Science of The Total Environment, 2020, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142834. The effects of oil spills are worse when the site is near coastal communities. The damage is hard to measure and contain, since it can effect complex ecosystems and spread if introduced to underground water. In the Exxon Valdez oil spill, 38,000 people sued the company over the environmental damage. The underground oil spills are more difficult to catch and yet may be more problematic (oil may reach groundwater more easily and travel with it). “Experimental and Modeled Thermoregulatory Costs of Repeated Sublethal Oil Exposure in the Double-Crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax Auritus.” Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. An oil spill can have a major impact on the economy in coastal areas. PAH was found up to 8 miles from the wreckage site and was later found to be causing cardiac arrest in fish. Every time an oil spill occurs, the public looses faith in the oil companies' ability to control this dangerous but needed product. One preferred method is the introduction of microorganisms that cause the oil to herd to the surface and turn into an almost gel-like substance. Effects of oil spills When oil is spilled or leaked into in waterways and the ocean, it spreads very quickly with the help of wind and currents. Oil that contains volatile organic compounds partially evaporates, losing between 20 and 40 percent of its mass and becoming denser and more viscous (i.e., more resistant to flow). Then comes the process of cleaning the oil spill, which requires a lot of financing. Map depicting the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, caused by the explosion of an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana on April 20, 2010. As the name implies, an oil spill refers to any uncontrolled release of crude oil, gasoline, fuels, or other oil by-products into the environment.Oil spills can pollute land, air, or water. Oil toxicity: Oil consists of many different toxic compounds. The oil has contaminated water and gives them sinus problems. Oil spill doesn’t affect marine life alone but also humans are threatened when a spill … The oil residue also can disperse almost invisibly in the water or form a thick mousse with the water. In 2010, for example, after the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, more than 5,000 … The chemical composition of oil mixes with the water and creates a new substance known as "mousse." Even a small amount of oil can be deadly to a bird. By coating feathers, oil not only makes flying impossible but also destroys birds' natural waterproofing and insulation, leaving them vulnerable to hypothermia or overheating. As birds frantically preen their feathers to restore their natural protections, they often swallow oil, which can severely damage their internal organs and lead to death. The best estimate of the Exxon Valdez oil spill is that it killed 250,000 seabirds.. Valuable fishing areas maybe closed down for any period of time if an oil spill occurs. 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