Oil Spill Effects Oil spills affect marine life and local industry for years, even decades after they occur. The effects of oil spills are worse when the site is near coastal communities.
Full Answer
How long did the Gulf of Mexico oil spill last?
Over the course of 87 days, the damaged Macondo wellhead, located around 5,000 feet beneath the ocean's surface, leaked an estimated 3.19 million barrels (over 130 million gallons) of oil into the Gulf of Mexico—making the spill the largest accidental ocean spill in history. Once the oil left the well,...
How will the Gulf Oil Spill affect the future of shellfish?
Billions of shellfish were killed by oil that reached the shoreline, as well as by river water that was released into the Gulf during the response to the spill. These losses will affect reproduction and recruitment over multiple generations.
What was the worst oil spill in history?
Introduction. The Gulf oil spill is recognized as the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Within days of the April 20, 2010 explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that killed 11 people, underwater cameras revealed the BP pipe was leaking oil and gas on the ocean floor about 42 miles off the coast of Louisiana.
What are the social effects of oil spills?
People and Pollution: The Social Impacts Oil Spills Have at a Community Level. Oil spills can damage the environment and the wildlife and marine life that depend on it. They can also cause physical, mental, and financial stress to people as individuals.
What are the long term effects of the Gulf oil spill?
A similar study found that citizens on the Gulf Coast had increased levels of anxiety, depression, and respiratory issues that lasted for several years after the catastrophe. Other coastal residents had similar symptoms including skin rashes, muscle cramps, pneumonia, migraines, and much more.
How long do the effects of oil spills last?
Oil contamination may persist in the marine environment for many years after an oil spill and, in exceptional cases such as salt marshes and mangrove swamps, the effects may be measurable for decades after the event. However, in most cases, environmental recovery is relatively swift and is complete within 2–10 years.
How did the oil spill likely affect human communities in the Gulf?
People in communities where the oil fouled the beaches had much higher incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. And that mental stress, Palinkas says, translated into higher rates of heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory disorders and other physical illnesses.
How do oil spills affect communities?
Impacts to local economies and recreation: Oil spills can result in closures of beaches, parks, waterways, and recreational and commercial fisheries. There may also be restrictions on hunting and boating. As a result, local economies may be severely impacted, both in the short and long term.
How long does it take an area to recover from a major oil spill?
The study combined chemical and biological assessment methods to demonstrate that a time period of up to 20 years or longer is required for deep mud coastal habitats to recover from the toxic impact of catastrophic oil spills.
Does oil spill damage last forever?
0:245:00Does Oil Spill Damage Last Forever? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that's just in the last year and a half cleaning up the spill is heavily studied. But whatMoreAnd that's just in the last year and a half cleaning up the spill is heavily studied. But what happens later what happens five 10 50. Years after an oil spill is everything just hunky-dory.
How the Gulf oil spill has impacted the social and economic aspects of the surrounding community?
The oil spill impacted the fishing and seafood, tour- ism, and oil and gas industries. Government agencies closed oiled waters to recreational and commercial fishing; visitors canceled their vacations; and the government stopped offshore drilling projects for six months.
How long did it take to clean up the Gulf War oil spill?
Already within a year natural cleanup process had removed most of the oil from hard surfaces and decresed the quantities considerably in areas with sand and mud. About three years after the spill most of the fauna had re-colonized the lower sections of the beach, and the recovery on the upper sections were underway.
How did the Persian Gulf oil spill affect society?
The Gulf War oil spill caused significant economic damage to the fishing and oil industries around the Persian Gulf. Because of the war, and particularly because of the spill, fish and prawn fishing in the Gulf were halted in 1991. The spill also led to damage of fishing equipment and infrastructure.
How long does oil stay in soil?
It doesn't degrade over 20 to 30 years and heating oil contamination tends to stay at the tank source. Excavation is the most economical and effective way to clean up contaminated soil.
How would an oil spill affect humans?
Studies of biomarkers have uncovered irreparable harm to humans exposed to oil and gas from spills. These effects can be grouped into respiratory damage, liver damage, decreased immunity, increased cancer risk, reproductive damage and higher levels of some toxics (hydrocarbons and heavy metals).
Who is most affected by oil spills?
What Creatures Are 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.
What would happen if the spill happened in Hartley Bay?
A spill in Hartley Bay would have the potential to damage the way of life and the culture.
How does oil affect the environment?
Oil spills can damage the environment and the wildlife and marine life that depend on it. They can also cause physical, mental, and financial stress to people as individuals. But even at a larger social level, like a community, oil spills can threaten the order of things.
How did the cleanup affect the town of Ritchie?
Ritchie said that the cleanup activities also had an impact on the town. A divide was created between those who were able to get contracts to work on the cleanup, and those who didn’t. People were also impacted by a constant influx of outsiders — responders, media, officials, scientists, and researchers were all converging on the scene.
What is the most important thing for communities to keep in mind when they’re concerned about a risk of marine pollution?
Ritchie said the most important thing for communities to keep in mind when they’re concerned about a risk of marine pollution is that they shouldn’t get complacent about preparedness and response activities.
Was the oil spill a disruptive event?
For many, the litigation and compensation process was equally as disruptive as the oil spill itself. In interviews with community members, Ritchie discovered on overall sense that the people were tired and wanted to move on but that it wouldn’t be until the litigation was complete that they would finally have closure.
Was Ritchie hit by Exxon Valdez?
The community of Cordova, where Ritchie spent the majority of her time, was not hit directly by the oil from Exxon Valdez. But areas used by the community of Cordova for recreational, subsistence, and commercial fishing were hit, in addition to areas where people were culturally active.
How many cleanup workers are in the GuLF study?
Almost 33,000 cleanup workers are enrolled in the 10-year health study, making a significant contribution to their communities and answering important public health questions. For more information on this study, visit GuLF STUDY.
What is NTP in oil?
The National Toxicology Program (NTP), headquartered at NIEHS, has established a research program to increase understanding of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), widespread environmental contaminants that are naturally present in crude oil and also formed during the incomplete burning of gas, coal, and other organic matter. The oil spill brought to light knowledge gaps on the ecological and human health hazards of these compounds. NTP is studying both individual PACs and PAC mixtures, to gain a better understanding of how exposures to these compounds may affect human health. For more information on this research, visit NTP Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds Research.
When was the GuLF study initiated?
The NIEHS initiated the study in June 2010. The GuLF STUDY will help determine if oil spills, and exposure to crude oil and dispersants, affect physical and mental health.
How did the Barataria Bay oil spill affect dolphins?
Barataria Bay bottlenose dolphins were one of the most severely injured populations: the oil spill caused a 35 percent increase in death, a 46 percent increase in failed reproduction, and a 37 percent increase in adverse health effects compared with a healthy population. These adverse health effects include adrenal and lung disease and low reproductive success.
What are the impacts of oiling on wildlife?
These important areas were affected by oiling, which led to habitat degradation and loss, decreased food abundance, and physical disturbance of the habitat.
What were the Gulf Resources affected by the Deepwater Horizon?
Affected Gulf Resources. Oiled Kemp’s Ridley turtle. Oil released during the Deepwater Horizon disaster injured plants, wildlife, and entire ecosystems. The oil posed a widespread threat from the deepest reaches of the Gulf to its shorelines.
How much did oil affect the sperm whale population?
Oil exposure resulted in up to an estimated 7 percent decline in the population of endangered sperm whales. 48 percent of the Bryde’s whales population was impacted by the oil, resulting in up to an estimated 22 percent decline in population.
What are the negative effects of oil on fish?
Fish suffered many negative effects from the oil, including impaired reproduction and reduced growth.
What animals are affected by oil in the Gulf of Mexico?
When oil reached the water surface, emergency response workers and researchers observed oil on the surface of Gulf waters directly impacting dolphins, sperm whales, whale sharks, birds, and sea turtles.
How did the oil affect fish?
Fish suffered many negative effects from the oil, including impaired reproduction and reduced growth.
What are the effects of oil spills on marine life?
Marine Life. Waterfowl, fish, plants, and living organisms suffer serious health effects after oil spills. Oil can be ingested, inhaled, and absorbed by marine life.
What happens when oil spills into open water?
When oil spills into open water, it often interferes with shipping routes. The oil from the spill can damage ships and spread the spill even further; in many cases, ships are ordered to bypass areas affected by spills.
How does oil affect marine life?
Shorelines are typically teeming with species that flourish on the water's surface, including birds, sea otters, fish, and invertebrates. When a massive amount of oil is spilled into these areas, it harms the health of marine life. Oil spills also impact local industry; the fishing, shipping, and tourism industries often suffer economic losses after oil spills.
Why are fish eggs sensitive to oil?
Disturbed breeding grounds: Fish eggs and larvae, as well as bird eggs, are sensitive to toxins and can be damaged by oil spills; birds and fish that are exposed to oil often experience impaired reproductive abilities.
What are the deformities that marines suffer from?
Deformities: Marine life may suffer from deformities such as stunted growth, fin abnormalities, fertility problems, and other impairments. Other damage: Marine life's respiratory, cardiac, and immune systems can be compromised due to oil spills.
What to do if you have an oil spill?
You may be entitled to compensation for loss of wages and property damage.
Can oil damage seals?
Hypothermia: contact with oil can har m the insulation of feathers and fur, leaving birds, sea otters, and seals vulnerable to hypothermi a.
When did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill happen?
A similar phenomenon occurred after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010, the largest in United States history. Ten years later, high levels of oil pollution continue to be found in organisms inhabiting the seafloor. However, as sea currents stir up these polluted sediments, they also contaminate species living at shallower waters.
What happened to the coral reefs after the Bahia Las Minas spill?
In both areas, the number and diversity of species had declined and the number of juvenile colonies was low. That is, the younger corals and associated organisms were not enough to regenerate healthy coral communities.
How does oil pollution affect coral reefs?
Oil pollution is known to cause lethal and sublethal responses on coral communities in the short-term, but its long-term effects have not been widely studied. The Bahia Las Minas oil spill, which contaminated about 40 square kilometers (about 15 square miles) near the Smithsonian's Galeta Point Marine Laboratory in Colon and became the largest recorded near coastal habitats in Panama, served as an opportunity to understand how coral reefs in tropical ecosystems recover from acute contamination over time.
What happened to the coral reefs in Panama?
The near-shore habitats of Bahia Las Minas in the central Caribbean coast of Panama became heavily contaminated after a refinery accident in 1986. Over the next five years, there was a significant decline in the numbers and diversity of corals. Thirty years later, researchers from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and collaborating institutions report on the long-term changes of the oil spill on coral communities. Their findings were published in the journal Marine Biodiversity.
What are the similarities between the Portobelo and the Isla Grande?
The similarities between both areas had more to do with the sustained deterioration of the Portobelo-Isla Grande coastal area than with an improvement in the conditions of Bahia Las Minas after the oil spill. These effects were related to coastal development and other human-related impacts on the reefs, such as rising sea temperatures, coral diseases, overfishing and aquatic pollution and sedimentation.