Oil Spill Research Paper

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The density of most oils is less than the density of water, that is the reason why it floats (Effects of Oil Spills on Wild Life and Habitat, 2004). Oil spills are by products of human activity where in oil is leaked from ships, shore facilities, pipelines and offshore platforms. The largest contributors to oil spills are automobiles, boats, industrial plants and machinery, not the tankers and ships that carry large amounts of oil (Oil spills: Severity and Consequences to Our Ecosystem, 2012).

According to the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service, oil spills affects the wildlife and their habitats in several ways. The severity of the injury caused by the oil spill depends on the type of oil spilled, the season, the type of shoreline, and the waves …show more content…

Fresh water bodies are highly sensitive to oil spills and is very important to the human health and to the environment. Freshwater is often used as drinking water and frequently serves as the nesting ground and food source of different fresh water organisms. All types of freshwater organisms such as mammals, aquatic birds, fishes, insects, microorganism and vegetation are vulnerable to the deadly effects of oil spill. The effects of oil spill to freshwater microorganisms, invertebrates and algae moves up to the food chain where in other species are also affected (Nomack, 2010). Humans can also be affected by oil spills because through oil spills where in we can be exposed to dangerous carcinogens which is a cancer causing agent, such as benzene that could be found in contaminated drinking water (Oil spills: Severity and Consequences to Our Ecosystem, …show more content…

Direct oil contact with oil is possible when the spill is deposited on intertidal corals that live near the surface of the water and is exposed to the tides. Direct contact with oil can lead to the death of corals depending on the coral species, growth form life stage and type or duration of oil spill. Due to rough seas, light soluble oils can combine with the water below the surface where it can come in contact with the corals. When heavy oils weather or mix with sediment materials, they tend to increase density up to the point where it can actually sink and potentially smothering the corals in the coral reef (How does an oil spill affect coral reefs

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