Economic impacts of oil spills generally include cost of clean-up and compensation, damage to agricultural lands, fishery and wildlife. Social impact on the other hand includes community conflicts, violence and frustration which leads to militancy, reduction in tourism and hospitality industries.
What is the impact of oil spills?
Oil toxicity: Oil consists of many different toxic compounds. These toxic compounds can cause severe health problems like heart damage, stunted growth, immune system effects , and even death.
How does oil impact the community?
The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. It has led to increased pollution and sedimentation in streams and rivers , clogging these waterways and causing declines in fish and other species. And degraded lands are also often less able to hold onto water, which can worsen flooding.
How do oil spills affect humans?
Oil spills can also affect human health. ... People who clean up the spill are more at risk. Problems could include skin and eye irritation, neurologic and breathing problems, and stress . Not much is known about the long-term effects of oil spills.
What are the economic impacts of oil spills?
And while long-term damage estimates vary, a new study published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences determined that over seven years, the oil spill could have a $8.7 billion impact on the economy of the Gulf of Mexico including losses in revenue, profit, wages, and close to 22,000 jobs .
How does oil spill impact the environment?
When oils rigs or machinery malfunction or break, thousands of tons of oil can seep into the environment. Oil spill effects on environments and habitats can be catastrophic: they can kill plants and animals, disturb salinity/pH levels, pollute air/water and more . Read more about the types of oil pollution.
What type of pollution is oil spill?
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution . The term is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land.
Who is most affected by oil spills?
Since most oils float, the creatures most affected by oil are animals like sea otters and seabirds that are found on the sea surface or on shorelines if the oil comes ashore. During most oil spills, seabirds are harmed and killed in greater numbers than other kinds of creatures.
What causes oil pollution?
Oil spills that happen in rivers, bays and the ocean most often are caused by accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries , drilling rigs and storage facilities, but also occur from recreational boats and in marinas. Spills can be caused by: people making mistakes or being careless.
What is deforestation and why is it important?
Deforestation not only removes vegetation that is important for removing carbon dioxide from the air, but the act of clearing the forests also produces greenhouse gas emissions. ... In fact, deforestation accounts for nearly 20% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Can oil spills be prevented?
Don’t overfill fuel tanks – fill to only 90 percent capacity to reduce the chance of spills. Use oil absorbent pads in the bilges of all boats with inboard engines. Regularly inspect through-hull fittings often to reduce the risk of sinking. Recycle used oil and filters.
Which animal is killed for oil?
At least four species of marine mammals have been killed by the oil spill, including bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, melon-headed whales and sperm whales .
Why is it important to clean-up oil spills?
An oil spill can quickly catch fire and create havoc . You need to call an oil spill clean-up team to remove any oil spilled in your home. Again, oil spill cleanup should be done as quickly as possible. It is similar to water damage and water cleanup projects.
What are the long term effects of an oil spill?
Large-scale persistent ecological effects included impacts to deep ocean corals, failed recruitment of oysters over multiple years, damage to coastal wetlands, and reduced dolphin, sea turtle, and seabird populations .
What is the biggest oil spill in history?
On April 20, 2010, the oil drilling rig Deepwater Horizon , operating in the Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded and sank resulting in the death of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon and the largest spill of oil in the history of marine oil drilling operations.
Which bacteria used to remove oil spills?
Pseudomonas can digest the hydrocarbons in oil. They are gram negative bacteria that are found in soil, water and plants and animals. A species called Pseudomonas putida is widely used in oil spill decontamination or bioremediation. It is known to break down many aromatic compounds like hydrocarbons.
