Meghan Hodges
Oil pollution is one of the most environmentally damaging forms of pollution, with both short- and long-term effects on local ecosystems. Oil spills are the most well-known cause of oil pollution in water, but routine shipping, run-offs, dumping, and nonpoint source pollution also contribute to the problem. Oil spills can harm marine life, ruin beaches, and make seafood unsafe to eat. The clean-up process is challenging and can take a long time, and even then, it is impossible to remove 100% of the spilled oil. Oil spills can also have severe economic and social consequences, including massive economic damage to the fishing industry and the potential closure of beaches and parks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sources of oil pollution | Improper disposal of drilling muds, shipping and terrestrial traffic accidents, tank washing and oil ballast discharges, depot leakage, and failure or rupture in oil pipelines |
| Oil spills | Oil spills can be large or small, and can occur from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs, wells, or pipelines |
| Environmental impact | Oil spills can kill plants and animals, disturb salinity/pH levels, block sunlight from reaching oceanic environments, and cause respiratory and reproductive problems in humans |
| Economic impact | Oil spills can result in massive economic damage to the fishing industry, as well as damage to equipment and boats |
| Social impact | Oil spills can result in the closure of beaches, parks, and fisheries, and can cause fire hazards |
| Ecological impact | Oil spills can contaminate marine and coastal life through poison by ingestion, destruction of habitat, and direct contact with oil |
| Clean-up | Clean-up activities can never remove 100% of the spilled oil, and must be careful not to cause additional harm; controlled burning and dispersants can be used to reduce the amount of oil in water, but can also cause air pollution and increase toxic hydrocarbon levels in fish |
What You'll Learn
Oil spills
The impact of oil spills on the environment and marine life is extensive. Oil can spread quickly over the water surface, with lighter oils, such as gasoline, spreading faster than heavy crude oils. This slick oil can cover large areas, affecting open oceans, coastal regions, and marine and terrestrial habitats. Oil spills contaminate beaches, sediments, and water bodies, making water unconsumable and unsafe for marine life.
The Persian Gulf Oil spill, the largest known spill in history, released over 888 million litres of oil into the ocean near Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Other significant spills include the 1991 Gulf War Oil Spill, which resulted in 240 million gallons of spilled oil, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Spill, which released an estimated 53,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico daily for three months.
The consequences of oil spills for marine life are dire. Oil can suffocate fish, impair the water repellency of birds' feathers, and cause juvenile sea turtles to become trapped. Dolphins and whales may inhale oil, affecting their lungs, immune systems, and reproduction. Oil ingestion during self-cleaning can poison birds and animals, and it can cause reduced growth, enlarged livers, and impaired reproduction in adult fish.
Cleanup efforts for oil spills are challenging and costly, often ranging from hundreds to millions of dollars. While cleanup activities are necessary, they cannot remove 100% of the spilled oil, and some methods can cause additional harm to sensitive habitats. The containment and restoration process is crucial for mitigating the environmental and ecological damage caused by oil spills.
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Routine shipping
Oil is one of the world's most important energy sources, but its uneven distribution means it often has to be transported by ship. This, along with offshore drilling, means that ships and tankers contribute to around 8% of marine oil spills. However, routine shipping maintenance accounts for nearly 20% of oil spills.
On a ship, oil leaks from engine and machinery spaces or from engine maintenance activities. Oil mixes with water in the bilge—the lowest part of the hull of the ship. Although bilge water is filtered and cleaned before being discharged, oil, even in minute concentrations, can be extremely harmful to marine life. Oil in bilge water can kill fish or have various sub-lethal chronic effects. Bilge water may also contain solid wastes, high levels of oxygen-demanding material, and other chemicals.
Ballast water discharges by ships can also negatively impact the marine environment. Cruise ships, large tankers, and bulk cargo carriers use a lot of ballast water, often taken on in coastal waters. This water can contain harmful bacteria, pathogens, viruses, intestinal parasites, and nutrients. Discharging ballast water can cause bacterial and viral contamination of fisheries and shellfish beds, creating risks to public health. Nutrients in sewage, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can promote excessive algal blooms, which consume oxygen in the water and can lead to fish kills and the destruction of other aquatic life.
Greywater from sinks, showers, galleys, laundry, and cleaning activities aboard a ship can also cause water pollution. It can contain a variety of pollutants, including fecal coliforms, detergents, oil and grease, metals, organic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, nutrients, food waste, and medical and dental waste.
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Run-offs and dumping
Oil pollution in water is caused by oil spills, routine shipping, run-offs, and dumping. While oil spills are a major contributor to oil pollution, run-offs and dumping also play a significant role. Run-off pollution is one of the most harmful sources of pollution in many regions. It is caused by rainwater and snowmelt that run off streets, parking lots, lawns, and other surfaces, picking up pollutants such as oil, pet waste, pesticides, fertilizers, and other contaminants along the way. This polluted water then flows into storm drains and eventually makes its way into local rivers, streams, and oceans.
The impact of run-off pollution is extensive and long-lasting. It erodes streams, kills fish, pollutes drinking water and swimming areas, and causes flooding. The strong currents of run-off can reshape waterways, altering the natural contours and depths of streams. The eroded dirt and increased algae growth smother the aquatic homes of oysters and other aquatic life, endangering their survival.
A significant source of oil run-off is motor oil leaked from vehicles or dumped by homeowners and commercial garages. This oil often contains toxic substances like lead, benzene, zinc, or magnesium, which can poison marine life. Other sources of oil run-off include oil-streaked streets, lawnmowers, and dispersed sources on land. In North America, more than half of the oil run-off occurs along the East Coast from Virginia to Maine, due to the high density of people, vehicles, and other sources in the region.
To reduce the impact of run-off pollution, individuals can take several measures. These include properly disposing of motor oil and other automotive fluids at designated drop-off or recycling locations, cutting back on fertilizers and pesticides, and incorporating permeable pavement and rain gardens to help filter contaminants before they enter the storm sewers. While government agencies also work to craft and implement standards to reduce stormwater runoff, individual efforts are crucial in mitigating the effects of run-offs and dumping on water pollution.
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Drilling and extraction
Oil pollution in water is a pressing environmental issue, with oil spills being the most well-known cause. However, oil pollution also occurs during the drilling and extraction phases, which can have significant ecological and economic repercussions.
During the drilling and extraction process, oil companies first drill down to access the oil reservoirs, which are located below ground or the ocean floor. The crude oil is then pumped out and transported to refineries for processing. This stage carries inherent risks, as any malfunction or breakage of machinery can result in oil leakage. For instance, the Deepwater Horizon and Ixtoc I spills were caused by malfunctions in drilling equipment, leading to substantial oil leaks.
Furthermore, the improper disposal of drilling muds and other waste products can contribute to water pollution. "Produced water," which is the wastewater generated during oil extraction, often contains a significant amount of oil (up to 10%) and various chemical additives. This toxic mixture is often discharged untreated into the local environment, contaminating water sources.
Another concern is pipeline ruptures, which have been attributed to fishing boat trawling, natural disasters, pipe corrosion, construction defects, and sabotage. Pipeline oil spills are a significant contributor to ocean pollution, with an overall increase in such incidents over the past four decades.
The extraction and transportation of oil present additional risks. Oil is typically transported from the extraction site to refineries via pipes, ships, trucks, or trains. This movement of oil exposes it to potential accidents and spills during shipping and terrestrial traffic. Moreover, the cleaning and maintenance of tankers and ships can result in the operational discharge of oily tank washings, further polluting the water.
In summary, while oil spills grab headlines and public attention, the drilling and extraction phases of oil production present numerous opportunities for water pollution. From equipment malfunctions to improper waste disposal and pipeline ruptures, these stages of oil production can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems and the economy, particularly in regions dependent on fishing and tourism.
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Clean-up operations
One of the primary objectives of clean-up crews is to contain and skim the oil. This is achieved through the use of mechanical means such as booms and skimmers. Booms are long, floating, physical barriers that prevent the spread of oil, while skimmers, which are modified boats, skim the oil off the water surface. Industrial-sized vacuum trucks are also employed to suction oil from the shoreline or water surface.
In some cases, chemical dispersion techniques are used by applying chemicals designed to break down the oil into small droplets, making it easier to remove. Another method, known as "in situ burning" or "in-place burning," involves setting fire to freshly spilled oil while it is still floating on the water surface. While this method can be effective, it releases hydrocarbons, which mix with water vapour in the atmosphere and contribute to acid rain, causing environmental damage to water bodies, plants, and even buildings.
To protect sensitive habitats, such as beaches, mangroves, and wetlands, manual clean-up campaigns are often deployed. These campaigns involve deterring wildlife from the impacted area using floating dummies and balloons while attempting to remove the oil. However, it is important to consider that human presence during manual clean-ups can sometimes cause more damage than the oil spill itself by driving the oil deeper into the ground.
The restoration process is crucial to the recovery of the affected area. It involves conducting ecological, biological, and chemical studies to understand the extent of the damage. Once the damage is assessed, steps can be taken to enhance natural recovery processes, such as the reintroduction of affected species, erosion control, and implementing changes in management practices like controlling fishing and hunting in the impacted areas.
To ensure effective preparedness and response to oil spills, governments and the oil industry must have comprehensive plans in place. Regular spill response training exercises are essential to minimising the environmental impact. The Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) program in the United States, for example, has significantly reduced the number of spills by preparing for and responding to oil spills in inland waters. Additionally, legislative frameworks, such as the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, hold those responsible for oil spills accountable for the cleanup and restoration costs.
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Frequently asked questions
Oil can cause water pollution through oil spills, routine shipping, run-offs, and dumping. Oil spills are the most well-known cause of water pollution, with thousands of smaller spills occurring each year in addition to the major incidents that tend to make the news.
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity. Oil spills can result from the release of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs, and wells. They may also involve spills of refined petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel fuel, as well as their by-products.
Oil spills can have disastrous consequences for the environment, economy, and society. They can harm marine life, including birds, sea mammals, fish, algae, and coral, through poison by ingestion, destruction of habitat, and direct contact with oil. Oil spills can also disturb salinity/pH levels, pollute air and water, and impact the food chain of an ecosystem by blocking sunlight from reaching oceanic environments. The clean-up process after an oil spill can also cause additional harm to the environment.
Oil spills can cause immediate negative effects on human health, including respiratory and reproductive problems, as well as liver and immune system damage. Oil spills can also lead to the closure of beaches, parks, and fisheries, and create fire hazards.
