oil spills and their effects on sea life

7/29/2019 Oil Spills and Their Effects on Sea Life

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OIL SPILLS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON SEA LIFE

INTRODUCTION:

An oil spill is a release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment

due to human activity, and is a form ofpollution. The term often refers

to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean orcoastal waters. Oil

spills include releases ofcrude oil from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling

rigs and wells, as well as spills ofrefined petroleum products (such

as gasoline, diesel) and their by-products, and heavier fuels used by

large ships such as bunker fuel, or the spill of any oily refuse orwaste oil.

Spills may take months or even years to clean up

An oil spill is the accidental petroleum release into the environment. On land,

oil spills are usually localized and thus their impact can be eliminated relatively

easily. In contrast, marine oil spills may result in oil pollution over large areas

and present serious environmental hazards. The primary source of accidental

oil input into seas is associated with oil transportation by tankers and pipelines

(about 70%), whereas the contribution of offshore drilling and production

activities is minimal (less than 1%). Large and catastrophic spills releasing

more than 30,000 tons of oil are relatively rare events and their frequency in

recent decades has decreased perceptibly. Yet, such episodes have the potential

to cause the most serious ecological risk (primarily for sea birds and mammals)

and result in long-term environmental disturbances (mainly in coastal zones)

and economic impact on coastal activities.

Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with the initial appearance and

consistency of thick dirty used oil. When crude oil is released into the sea a

number of physical and chemical changes occur:
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The oil initially floats in a layer up to several inches thick at the water surface

which is spread and moved by wind and water currents. Immediately, more

volatile components begin to separate and disperse into the atmosphere and

water soluble components (called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs)

leach into the surrounding water. Lighter insoluble components form thin

films that spread and move more extensively than the thicker oil. The warmer

the sea and air temperature, the more rapidly these components separate. Wave

action separates the mass into smaller areas and patches, and eventually into

smaller globules, some of which emulsify with seawater. Oil-water emulsion

has the characteristic tan- yellow color often seen in floating oil slicks.

Dispersants (detergent like substances) distributed to break up the oil slick

facilitate the formation of emulsions, distributing the oil as droplets of oil and

emulsion throughout the water column.

As the lighter components dissolve, the remaining oil develops a thick gooey

consistency, and breaks into pieces anywhere from mm to several cm

diameters. Depending on the temperature, water contented the surface to

volume ratio of these globules, they may remain buoyant, become suspended in

the water column, or sink to the bottom. The oil slick therefore contains a

number of components, thick mats of oil, oily films, oil/water emulsions,

particles and lumps (tar balls) that may float or sink and material dissolved in

the water below and dispersed into the air above. This mixture of components

becomes progressively more dispersed and difficult to contain as time goes by,

and as wave action and temperature have their effect.

As the slick approaches the shore, some of the denser oily components (tar)

become mixed with sand, mud and floating debris forming tar balls with

variable buoyancy and mobility. These particles may be mixed into the bottom


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sediments, roll around on the bottom, or wash up on the beach or marsh. In

warm climates, tar balls may melt on hot days, break up, remix and harden

again, continually breaking up and releasing additional soluble and volatile

components.

Although the majority of spilled oil remains floating at or near the sea surface,

components may be spread throughout the marine environment, water column,

bottom and bottom sediments, and shoreline habitats.

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EFFECTS OF OIL SPILLS ON SEA LIFE

Oil spills have a devastating and long-term impact on waterways and coastalareas around the world. When a spill occurs, oil rapidly spreads in the waterthanks to currents and the wind. As it spreads, oil mixes with water and

becomes sticky, clinging to helpless marine life unable to avoid its deadlypursuit.

The environmental effects can have serious consequences for many marinepopulations. Oil can cause hypothermia and drowning of birds as the oil breaksdown the insulating capabilities of their feathers, makes them heavier andcompromises their flying ability. It can also cause hypothermia in seal pupsand otters as the oil destroys their insulating fur.

Birds and other animals often ingest oil when trying to clean themselves whichcan poison them and create toxins in their immune systems. Birds that diveunder water to catch food are most vulnerable to spilled oil since they spendmost of their time sitting on the water between dives.

In the Great Lakes, and in the shore waters of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts,loons, grebes, and diving ducks such as long-tailed ducks, mergansers, andeiders are most affected by oil spills. Dabbling ducks including the American

black ducks and mallards are often victims of oil spilled into the shallowcoastal and inland waters of their habitats.

Seabirds including puffins, shearwaters, razorbills, murres, and dovekies arefrequently affected by offshore oil spills. These birds live mainly on openwater, however; they can also become oiled in coastal waters since they cometo coastal islands to breed.

Oil spills can have more devastating effects on some bird populations than onothers. Birds that lay several eggs are more likely to recover from deathscaused by oil spills than those that lay fewer eggs.

The bottom line: the closer the spill occurs to the shoreline, the greater theecological damage since coastal areas are home to more concentrated anddiverse populations of marine life than at sea.

Spills can also severely harm turtle eggs and damage fish larvae, causingdeformities. Shellfish and corals are particularly at risk since they can't escape


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the runaway slick. Oil spills are also responsible for tainting algae, whichperform a vital role in waterway ecosystems.

If a spill isn't contained quickly, oil can lie beneath the surface of beaches andthe sea, severely affecting marine organisms that burrow, such as crabs, fordecades. Since these burrowing creatures are a food source for other animals,the cycle of poisoning can continue for many years.

When oil is spilled, most of the volatile compounds evaporate quickly. The oil,however, remains floating on the surface of the water, and starts to disperse,forming a very thin film which can cover large areas of water. Oil spills affectmarine life which live, hunt, or travel in the area covered with oil. Differenttypes of marine life are impacted differently, depending on their physiologyand habits. The compounds left behind after the volatile compounds play a

large part in why oil spills affect marine life, since many of them are toxic,dense, and bio-accumulative.

One of the most direct ways in which oil spills affect marine life is byessentially suffocating plants and animals. Marine plants can be covered in afilm of oil which prevents oxygen and water exchange, causing the plants todie. Marine life which feed on this vegetation will in turn struggle to survive.Coatings of oil on the flesh of birds and mammals can literally kill themthrough suffocation. Oil spills also affect marine life such as birds by strippingthe water resistant coating from their feathers. A bird weighed down by oil may

have difficulty flying, and will develop hypothermia as a result of exposure toextremely cold water. Mammals also suffer, as oil can remove water resistantcompounds from the coats of furred marine life like otters and seals.

Oil spills affect marine life like filter feeders by concentrating in the flesh ofthese animals. Clams, mussels, and oysters may quickly accumulate toxinswhich can kill the animals or be passed on along the food chain. Humanconsumers often complain that shellfish harvested from an area impact by anoil spill taste heavy and oily. Animals that rely on these filter feeders for foodmay become sick and die as a result of consuming them. When oil spills affectmarine life, it usually happens at multiple levels of the food chain, representinga lot of work to fix the problem.

The inhalation and ingestion of compounds related to oil spills can also harmmarine life, both in the long and short term. In the long term, oil spills affectmarine life by interfering with the ability to breed, reproduce, grow, or perform


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other vital functions. Toxins in oil can also cause cancers and other illnesses inthe long term. If left untreated, the area around an oil spill can be denuded oflife. Fortunately, there are ways to clean up oil spills. In addition to chemicals,ecologists also use bacteria which thrive on the compounds in oil to digest itand render it less harmful.

The oil penetrates into the structure of the plumage of birds, reducing its

insulating ability, thus making the birds more vulnerable to temperature

fluctuations and much less buoyant in the water. It also impairs or disables

birds' flight abilities to forage and escape from predators. As they attempt

to preen, birds typically ingest oil that covers their feathers,

causing kidney damage, altered liverfunction, and digestive tract irritation.

This and the limited foraging ability quickly

causes dehydration and metabolic imbalances. Hormonal balance alterationincluding changes in luteinizingprotein can also result in some birds exposed

to petroleum.

Most birds affected by an oil spill die unless there is human intervention. Some

studies have suggested that, even after cleaning, less than 1% of oil soaked

birds survive. Marine mammals exposed to oil spills are affected in similar

ways as seabirds. Oil coats the fur of otters and seals, reducing its insulation

abilities and leading to body temperature fluctuations and hypothermia.

Ingestion of the oil causes dehydration and impaired digestions. Because oilfloats on top of water, less sunlight penetrates into the water, limiting

the photosynthesis of marine plants and phytoplankton. This, as well as

decreasing the fauna populations, affects the food chain in the ecosystem.

There are three kinds of oil-consuming bacteria. Sulfate-reducing bacteria

(SRB) and acid-producing bacteria are anaerobic, while general aerobic

bacteria (GAB) are aerobic. These bacteria occur naturally and will act to

remove oil from an ecosystem, and their biomass will tend to replace other

populations in the food chain.

HypothermiaOil, a product that we often use to keep warm, can cause hypothermia inmarine animals. As oil mixes with water, it forms a substance called "mousse,"which sticks to feathers and fur.
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A bird's feathers are filled with air spaces that act as insulation and keeps thebird warm. When a bird gets coated with oil, the feathers lose their insulatingability and the bird could die of hypothermia.

Similarly, oil coats a pinnipeds fur. When this happens, the fur gets mattedwith oil and loses its natural ability to insulate the animal's body, and it can dieof hypothermia. Young animals like seal pups are particularly vulnerable.

Poisoning and Internal DamageAnimals can be poisoned or suffer internal damage from ingesting oil. Effectsinclude ulcers and damage to red blood cells, kidneys, liver and to the immunesystem. Oil vapors can injure to eyes and lungs, and can be particularlyhazardous while new oil is still coming to the surface and vapors areevaporating. If vapors are severe enough, marine mammals may become"sleepy" and drown.Oil can also cause effects 'up' the food chain, such as when an organism higheron the food chain eat a number of oil-infected animals. For example, eaglesdecreased after the eagles ate animals infected by oil after the ExxonValdezspill.

Increased PredationOil can weigh down feathers and fur, making it difficult for birds and pinnipeds

to escape from predators. If they are covered with enough oil, birds or

pinnipeds may actually drown.

Decreased ReproductionOil spills can effect the eggs of marine life such as fish and sea turtles, bothwhen the spill happens and later on. Fisheries were impacted years aftertheExxon Valdezspill due to the destruction of herring and salmon eggs whenthe spill occurred. Oil can also cause disruption of reproductive hormones and

behavioral changes that lead to reduced reproduction rates or affect the care ofyoung.

Fouling of HabitatOil spills in the can effect ocean habitat, both offshore and onshore.Before anoil spill reaches shore, the oil can poison plankton and otherpelagic marinelife.
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On shore, it can cover rocks, marine algae and marine invertebrates. TheExxonValdezspill coated 1,300 miles of coastline, initiating a massive cleanup effort.Once the cleanup of surface areas has occurred, oil that has seeped into theground can hurt marine life for decades. For example, oil can drip into theground, causing issues for burrowing animals such as crabs.

How Oil Affects Birds

The most obvious way oil affects birds is by coating theirplumage in sticky,greasy slime. Birds' feathers are precisely aligned and designed to providesuperb waterproofing and insulation. Oil in the feathers, however, will matthem and misalign the tiny barbs that keep the feathers properly positioned, andeven a small misalignment can cause birds to lose critical body heat, thereforeexposing them to temperatures and weather conditions that can be fatal. Oiled

birds also lose their natural buoyancy from air pockets created by properfeather alignment, and they can sink and drown in polluted waters.

In order to remove the oil from their feathers, oiled birds will begin to preenexcessively, even desperately. As they preen, they inadvertently ingest thetoxic sludge, which will then poison their kidneys, liver, lungs, intestines andother internal organs, causing slow and agonizing death. If they do not die fromthe oil's toxicity, their excessive preening in a desperate attempt to realign theirfeathers and get clean again will cost them more energy than they can spare,

and many oiled birds eventually succumb to exhaustion, dehydration orstarvation.

More Impacts of Oil on Birds

Oil has more impacts on birds than just coating their plumage. An areasubjected to a large oil spill become uninhabitable for the birds as foodsupplies are gradually killed off from the toxic poisons, and oil coating nestingareas destroys critical habitat. If birds are already nesting at the time of the

pollution, oil that coats the eggs will suffocate the un-hatched chicks,decimating the birds' population. If eggs have not been laid but female adultsingest the oil, the pollution can cause thinner shells that are more subject to

being crushed and causing malformed chicks that will not survive. Over time,small amounts of oil in the birds' ecosystem can be absorbed into foodsupplies, gradually building to deadly concentrations in birds that eat that food,whether it is plant life, insects, fish or other food sources.
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CLEANUP METHODS OF OIL SPILL

There are several clean-up methods that can be used, depending on the typeand amount of spilled oil, the water location and local weather conditions.Following are a list of some clean-up methods that are commonly used to treatareas that have been affected by oil spills.

Recovery times can range from weeks to decades. Along bedrock shorelines,where there are high-energy waves, the region may recover within severalweeks. Exposed beaches generally recover within a matter of months, butmarshes and salt flats may take years or even decades to recover from an oilspill. Mangroves, which are coastal regions in the tropics and subtropics, cantake around 50 years to recover.

Natural Methods: Bioremediation

The natural environment can effectively remove contaminants from the waterand soil. There are microorganisms that are present in the environment thatcan break down many harmful chemicals, including gasoline and oil. Toincrease the rate at which the microorganisms work, nutrients, such as nitrogenor phosphorus, are often added. Bioremediation is a process that occurs, to

some degree, after every oil spill. After the majority of the oil spill is cleanedup manually, biological processes break down the trace amounts that could not

be removed. Or, in sensitive areas that would cause too much damage ifpeople were to attempt to clean up the oil, these biological processes, togetherwith evaporation, oxidation, weathering and other natural processes, will breakdown the oil and naturally clean up the environment.

Booms

Because oil spreads very quickly, the most important primary step is to contain

the spill to as small of an area as possible. Booms are one of the mostcommonly used tools, because they can contain the oil to keep it fromspreading. There are three main types of booms. A hard boom, like the first

picture below, is a piece of plastic with a cylindrical float at the top and aweightedbottom, so that it floats on the surface with an underwater skirt.


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Sorbent booms, like the one shown in the second picture below, are made frommaterials that can absorb oil, and are most effective on thin, light oil slicks.Great caution must be taken when removing sorbent booms, so that the oil isnot squeezed back into the water. Booms can also be used to prevent oil fromrunning into storm drains when oil spills on pavement.

Fire booms are the third type of boom, but are not used as much as hard andsorbent booms. A fire boom is very similar to a hard boom, but is made ofmetal, so that it is fire resistant. Fire booms are used to contain oil spills untilthey can be lit on fire.

Chemical Dispersants

Chemical dispersants can be successful in cleaning up oil spills. Dispersants

are chemicals that are applied to the surface of the water, usually by a low-flying plane. Oil can eventually break down naturally, and chemicaldispersants act to speed up the natural process. The oil binds to the dispersant,and is able to move further down the water column, meaning that the oildisperses into the water. The water dilutes the oil to a concentration that is lessharmful to aquatic life in the region. The following diagram illustrates howchemical dispersants can be applied to an oil spill. The red substances are thechemicals that are applied to the region with a low-flying plane; the blacksubstance is the oil that binds to the dispersants and becomes suspended anddiluted in the water.

Application of Chemical Dispersants to an Oil Spill;

Dish detergent is a common household item that can illustrate how chemicaldispersants work, because grease and oil bind to dish detergent and are washedaway. However, chemical dispersants are not applied to shallow water nearshores, marshes, near coral reefs, or other sensitive areas.


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Skimmers

Skimmers are boats that can skim oil from the water surface. An advantage ofusing a skimmer to remove oil from water is that it doesnt change the physical

or chemical properties of the oil, as methods such as using chemicaldispersants do. Skimmers often have attached settling tanks, refined. In otherinstances, the oil is burned. The success of skimming depends on the type andthickness of the oil spill, the amount of debris in the water, the location and theweather conditions (skimming works best in calm weather).

Sorbents

In addition to using sorbent materials as booms, to contain and soak up oilspills, sorbents can also be applied to the water surface as powders. Sorbents

are often the final step of clean-up, because they can absorb trace amounts ofoil that could not be skimmed off. Commonly used sorbents include naturalorganic materials, such as peat moss and sawdust, or synthetic organicmaterials, such as polypropylene, polyester foam or polystyrene. Sorbents aregenerally applied by hand, and recovered with the use of nets and rakes.

Burning

Burning is a method that is often used to remove oil from the surface of thewater. Oil may also be burned after skimmers remove the oil from the water

surface. The burning of oil releases nitrogen and sulphur, which in turn causesacid rain. While burning can remove the oil from the water surface quicklyand efficiently, it causes additional pollution. Thus, there are some ways ofcleaning up after oil spills that are more beneficial than others.

Solidifying

Solidifiers are composed of dry hydrophobic polymers thatboth adsorb and absorb. They clean up oil spills by changing the physical state

of spilled oil from liquid to a semi-solid or a rubber-like material that floats onwater. Solidifiers are insoluble in water, therefore the removal of the solidifiedoil is easy and the oil will not leach out. Solidifiers have been proven to berelatively non-toxic to aquatic and wild life and have been proven to suppressharmful vapors commonly associated with hydrocarbons such as Benzene,Xylene, Methyl Ethyl, Acetone and Naphtha. The reaction time forsolidification of oil is controlled by the surf area or size of the polymer as well
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as the viscosity of the oil. Some solidifier product manufactures claim thesolidified oil can be disposed of in landfills, recycled as an additive in asphaltor rubber products, or burned as a low ash fuel. A solidifier called C.I.Agent(manufactured by C.I.Agent Solutions ofLouisville, Kentucky) is being used

by BP in granular form as well as in Marine and Sheen Booms on DauphinIsland, AL and Fort Morgan, MS to aid in the Deepwater Horizon oilspill cleanup.

Vacuum and centrifuge

Oil can be sucked up along with the water, and then a centrifuge can be used toseparate the oil from the water - allowing a tanker to be filled with near pureoil. Usually, the water is returned to the sea, making the process more efficient,

but allowing small amounts of oil to go back as well. This issue has hampered

the use of centrifuges due to a United States regulation amount of oil in waterreturned to the sea.

Beach Clean-up

Areas near shore that are contaminated with heavy concentrations of thick oilare often cleaned up manually, using shovels and trucks. Manual recovery canalso be used to pick up oiled beach sand and gravel, to remove it from the

beach and transport it to alternate locations for treatment. Vacuum trucks canvacuum the oil up, right off of the beach. Pressurized hoses can also be used to

wash oil off of beaches, into the water, where it will be dispersed and diluted inthe water.
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WAY OF PREVENTING OIL SPILLS

Double-hulling

Build double hulls into vessels, which reduces the risk and severity of a spill in

case of a collision or grounding. Existing single-hull vessels can also be rebuilt

to have a double hull.

Secondary Spill Containment

Secondary Spill Containment is used for the containment of liquids preventing

contamination or pollution occurring. The use of a spill bream liner for

containment of fuel tank leaks, oil spill cleanup, truck wheel

washing, HAZMAT chemical spill response and deacon pool showers for clean

animals, birds or people.

These secondary spill containment breams and liners are used in the oil and gas

industry while farcing, first responders for decontamination of equipment fromtruck roll over and spills and containment of chemical spills in factories or

work sites. They are portable, flexible and a cost effective solution for

pollution control.
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Emergency Response Plans

This law says that the owners of the tanker must have a detailed plan on what

they will do if there was a spill.

LiabilityThe law says that the owners of a boat that spills oil have to pay $1,200 for

every ton they spill.

Spill Fund

The law says that the government has money from companies that transport the

oil so when a spill occurs, the government can pay for the clean up.

Navigation

The law says that the Coast Guard must know where the oil tankers can drivewithout an oil spill occurring.


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ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY INDEX (ESI)

MAPPING

Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps are used to identify sensitive

shoreline resources prior to an oil spill event in order to set priorities for

protection and plan cleanup strategies. By planning spill response ahead of

time, the impact on the environment can be minimized or prevented.

Environmental sensitivity index maps are basically made up of information

within the following three categories: shoreline type, and biological and

human-use resources.

Shoreline type

Shoreline type is classified by rank depending on how easy the garret would be

to cleanup, how long the oil would persist, and how sensitive the shoreline

is. The floating oil slicks put the shoreline at particular risk when they

eventually come ashore, covering the substrate with oil. The differing

substrates between shoreline types vary in their response to oiling, and

influence the type of cleanup that will be required to effectively decontaminate

the shoreline. In 1995, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration extended ESI maps to lakes, rivers, and estuary shoreline

types. The exposure the shoreline has to wave energy and tides, substrate type,

and slope of the shoreline are also taken into accountin addition to biologicalproductivity and sensitivity. The productivity of the shoreline habitat is also

taken into account when determining ESI ranking. Mangroves and marshes

tend to have higher ESI rankings due to the potentially long-lasting and

damaging effects of both the oil contamination and cleanup actions.

Impermeable and exposed surfaces with high wave action are ranked lower due

to the reflecting waves keeping oil from coming onshore, and the speed at

which natural processes will remove the oil.

Biological resourcesHabitats of plants and animals that may be at risk from oil spills are referred to

as elements and are divided by functional group. Further classification

divides each element into species groups with similar life histories and

behaviors relative to their vulnerability to oil spills. There are eight element

groups: Birds, Reptiles Amphibians, Fish, Invertebrates, Habitats and Plants,
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Wetlands, and Marine Mammals and Terrestrial Mammals. Element groups are

further divided into sub-groups, for example, the marine mammals element

group is divided into dolphins, manatees, pinnipeds (seals, sea lions &

walruses), polar bears, sea otters and whales. Issues taken into consideration

when ranking biological resources include the observance of a large number ofindividuals in a small area, whether special life stages occur ashore (nesting or

molting), and whether there are species present that are threatened, endangered

or rare.

Human-use resources

Human use resources are divided into four major

classifications; archaeological importance or cultural resource site, high-use

recreational areas or shoreline access points, important protected management

areas, or resource origins. Some examples include airports, diving sites,popular beach sites, marinas, natural reserves or marine sanctuaries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnipedshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bearshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_ottershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeologicalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeologicalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_ottershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bearshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnipeds


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ESTIMATING THE VOLUME OF A SPILL

By observing the thickness of the film of oil and its appearance on the surfaceof the water, it is possible to estimate the quantity of oil spilled. If the surface

area of the spill is also known, the total volume of the oil can be calculated.

Film thickness Quantity spread

Appearance in mm nm gal/sq mi L/ha

Barely visible 0.0000015 0.0000380 38 25 0.370

Silvery sheen 0.0000030 0.0000760 76 50 0.730

First trace of color 0.0000060 0.0001500 150 100 1.500

Bright bands of color 0.0000120 0.0003000 300 200 2.900

Colors begin to dull 0.0000400 0.0010000 1000 666 9.700

Colors are much darker 0.0000800 0.0020000 2000 1332 19.500

Oil spill model systems are used by industry and government to assist in

planning and emergency decision making. Of critical importance for the skill

of the oil spill model prediction is the adequate description of the wind and

current fields. There is a worldwide oil spill modeling (WOSM)

program. Tracking the scope of an oil spill may also involve verifying that

hydrocarbons collected during an ongoing spill are derived from the active spill

or some other source. This can involve sophisticated analytical chemistry


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focused on finger printing an oil source based on the complex mixture of

substances present. Largely, these will be various hydrocarbons, among the

most useful being polyaromatic hydrocarbons. In addition, both oxygen and

nitrogen heterocyclic hydrocarbons, such as parent and alkyl homologues

ofcarbazole, quinoline, and pyridine, are present in many crude oils. As aresult, these compounds have great potential to supplement the existing suite of

hydrocarbons targets to fine tune source tracking of petroleum spills. Such

analysis can also be used to follow weathering and degradation of crude spills.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyaromatic_hydrocarbonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbazolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinolinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyridinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyridinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinolinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbazolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyaromatic_hydrocarbons


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LARGEST OIL SPILLS

The Torrey Canyon Oil SpillWhen: March 18, 1967

Where: Scilly Isles, UKAmount spilled: 25-36 million gallons

The Torrey Canyon was one of the first big supertankers, and it was also the

source of one of the first major oil spills. Although the ship was originally builtto carry 60,000 tons, it was enlarged to a 120,000-ton capacity, and thats theamount the ship was carrying when it hit a reef off the coast of Cornwall.

The spill created an oil slick measuring 270 square miles, contaminating 180miles of coastland. More than 15,000 sea birds and enormous numbers ofaquatic animals were killed before the spill was finally contained.

Toxic solvent-based cleaning agents were used by Royal Navy vessels to try todisperse the oil, but that didn't work very well and instead caused a great dealof environmental damage. It was then decided to set fire to the ocean and burnaway the oil by dropping bombs.

The Sea Star Oil SpillWhen: Dec. 19, 1972

Where: Gulf of Oman

Amount spilled: 35.3 million gallons

The South Korean supertanker, Sea Star, collided with a Brazilian tanker, theHorta Barbosa, off the coast of Oman on the morning of Dec. 19, 1972. Thevessels caught fire after the collision and the crew abandoned ship. Althoughthe Horta Barbosa was extinguished in a day, the Sea Star sank into the Gulf onDec. 24 following several explosions.
http://www.mnn.com/eco-glossary/birdshttp://www.mnn.com/eco-glossary/birds


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Odyssey Oil SpillWhen: Nov. 10, 1988

Where: Off the coast of Nova Scotia, CanadaAmount spilled: 40.7 million gallons

This large oil spill occurred about 700 nautical miles off the coast ofNewfoundland and spilled more than 40 million gallons of oil into the ocean.

M/T Haven Tanker Oil SpillWhen: April 11, 1991

Where: Genoa, ItalyAmount spilled: 45 million gallons

This oil tanker exploded and sank off the coast of Italy, killing six people andleaking its remaining oil into the Mediterranean for 12 years. The source of theexplosion was thought to be the ships poor state of repair supposedly theHaven was scrapped after being hit by a missile during the Iran-Iraq War, butwas put back into operation.

ABT Summer Oil SpillWhen: May 28, 1991

Where: About 700 nautical miles off the coast of AngolaAmount spilled: 51-81 million gallons

This ship exploded off the coast of Angola, discharging massive amounts of oilinto the ocean. Five of the 32 crew members on board died as a result of theincident. A large slick covering an area of 80 square miles spread around the

tanker and burned for three days before the ship sank on June 1, 1991.Subsequent efforts to locate the wreckage were unsuccessful.

Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill


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When: March 16, 1978

Where: Portsall, FranceAmount spilled: 69 million gallons

The massive Amoco Cadiz was caught in a winter storm that damaged theships rudder. The ship put out a distress call, but while several ships

responded, none were able to prevent the ship from running aground. OnMarch 17, the gigantic supertanker broke in half, sending its 69 million gallonsof oil into the English Channel. The French later sunk the ship.

Castillo de Bellver Oil SpillWhen: Aug. 6, 1983

Where: Saldanha Bay, South AfricaAmount spilled: 79 million gallons

The Castillo de Bellver caught fire about 70 miles north west of Cape Town,and drifted in the open sea until it broke in two 25 miles off the coast. Theships stern sank along with the 31 million gallons of oil it was carrying. The

bow section was towed and deliberately sunk later.

Nowruz Oil

Field SpillWhen: Feb. 10, 1983

Where: Persian Gulf, IranAmount spilled: 80 million gallons

The oil spill was the result of a tanker collision with an oil platform. Theweakened platform was closed, and it collapsed upon impact, spewing oil intothe Persian Gulf. The ongoing war between Iran and Iraq prevented the leakfrom being capped quickly.
http://www.mnn.com/eco-glossary/africahttp://www.mnn.com/eco-glossary/africa


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Kolva River Oil SpillWhen: Aug. 6, 1983

Where: Kolva River, RussiaAmount spilled: 84 million gallons

A poorly maintained pipeline caused this massive oil spill. The pipeline hadbeen leaking for eight months, but a dike contained the oil until sudden coldweather caused the dike to collapse. Millions of gallons of accumulated oilwere released that spread across 170 acres of streams, fragile bogs andmarshland.

Atlantic Empress Oil SpillWhen: July 19, 1979

Where: Off the coast of Trinidad and TobagoAmount spilled: 90 million gallons

This Greek oil tanker was caught in a tropical storm off the coast of Trinidadand Tobago when it collided with the Aegean Captain. The damaged shipstarted losing oil and continued to leak it into the ocean while it was towed.The oil tank finally sunk into deep water on Aug. 3, 1979, where the remainingcargo solidified.

Ixtoc 1 Oil SpillWhen: June 3, 1979

Where: Bay of Campeche off Ciudad del Carmen, MexicoAmount spilled: 140 million gallons

Like the Gulf oil spill, this spill didn't involve a tanker, but rather an offshoreoil well. Pemex, a state-owned Mexican petroleum company was drilling an oilwell when a blowout occurred, the oil ignited and the drilling rig to collapse.


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Oil began gushing out of the well into the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of 10,000 to30,000 barrels a day for almost an entire year before workers were finally ableto cap the well.

Gulf oil spill

When: April 22, 2010

Where: Gulf of Mexico

Amount spilled: An estimated 206 million gallons

The Gulf oil spill is officially the largest accidental spill in world history. Itbegan when an oil well a mile below the surface of the Gulf blew out, causingan explosion on BPs Deepwater Horizon rig that killed 11 people. BP made

several unsuccessful attempts to plug the well, but oil flowed possibly at arate as high as 2.5 million gallons a day until the well was capped on July15, 2010. Oil gushed from the broken well for more than 85 days, oiled 572miles of Gulf shoreline, and killed hundreds of birds and marine life. The long-term effects of the oil and the 1.82 million gallons of dispersant used on thisfragile ecosystem remain unknown, but experts say they could devastate theGulf coast for years to come.

Arabian Gulf/KuwaitWhen: Jan. 19, 1991

Where: Persian Gulf, KuwaitAmount spilled: 380-520 million gallons

The worst oil spill in history wasn't an accidentit was deliberate. During the

Gulf War, Iraqi forces attempted to prevent American soldiers from landing byopening valves at an offshore oil terminal and dumping oil from tankers. Theoil resulted in a 4-inch thick oil slick that spread across 4,000 square miles inthe Persian Gulf.


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RECENT OIL SPILLS IN INDIA

Aug 5,2011 The sinking of the Panama-flagged cargo vessel MV RAK off the

coast of Mumbai has led to oil spill. MV RAK is a Panama flag registered bulkcarrier which sank about 20 nautical miles off Mumbai coast in the Arabiansea.

The ship sank with 60,000 metric tonnes of coal 290 tonnes of fuel oil and 50tonnes of diesel on board which could prove fatal to the environment.

Coast Guard officials said the slick on the sea surface is probably just lubricantoil and not the oil from the vessels so far intact fuel tank. Still, they have sent

ICGS Kamladevi, a ship with pollution-control equipment, to the site to re

place ICGS Samudra Prahari which was deployed on Thurs day, to prevent anyenvironmental tragedy.

IN THE PAST

Jan 21, 2011 | An Oil and Natural Gas Commission pipeline ruptured, causingan oil spill about 80 km from Mumbais coast. Though plugged soon after it

began, the ecological damage from the incident affected an area of a mileradius.

Aug 7, 2010 | Two merchant vessels, MSC Chitra and MV Khalijia, collidedaround five nautical miles off Mumbai harbour, causing oil spillage of over800 metric tonnes. The spill affected mangroves and marine life in areas as faras Colaba, Raigad and Thane.


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oil spills and their effects on sea life

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