Petroleum Pollution: Understanding The Contamination Risk

Petroleum, or 'rock oil', has transformed the world, providing the bulk of our energy and fuel requirements. However, the extraction, refinement, and transportation of petroleum come at a cost to the environment. The combustion of petroleum releases polluting emissions, including carbon dioxide, a dangerous greenhouse gas. In addition, the exploration and drilling for oil can disturb ecosystems, and oil spills can contaminate soil and water, causing devastating explosions and fires. The health impacts of petroleum pollution are wide-ranging, from asthma and other respiratory issues to cancer and even death. With the production of oil nearing record levels in the US, there is a growing concern about the impact on air quality and human health.

Oil spills

Causes of Oil Spills

• Human error or carelessness
• Equipment malfunction or breakdown
• Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and other geological events
• Intentional acts, such as illegal dumping by individuals or companies to avoid proper disposal costs or regulations, or acts of war and terrorism
• Seepage from the seafloor due to natural migration of hydrocarbons from underground reservoirs
• Volcanic eruptions, both underwater and above ground, which can release oil and gas stored beneath the seafloor or generate solidified lumps of oil that can wash ashore and impact coastal ecosystems
• Severe weather events like storms, hurricanes, and tsunamis that damage oil infrastructure

Notable Examples of Oil Spills

Two of the most notable oil spills in history were the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 and the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. The Deepwater Horizon spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico and was caused by an explosion and sinking of the offshore drilling rig operated by British Petroleum. It resulted in the release of approximately 4.9 million barrels of oil, leading to water contamination, damage to coral reefs, and significant harm to marine life and coastal communities. The Exxon Valdez spill happened in Prince William Sound, Alaska, when the Exxon Valdez supertanker struck a reef, rupturing its hull and spilling approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil. This spill had devastating consequences for the Alaskan ecosystem, severely impacting marine life, contaminating beaches, disrupting the food chain, and causing long-term ecological damage.

Air pollution

Petroleum, or crude oil, and its refined products have extensive impacts on the environment and human health, particularly through air pollution.

The use of petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel, in vehicles, aircraft, and boats, is a major contributor to air pollution. The combustion of these fuels releases harmful gases and particles, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and unburned hydrocarbons. Additionally, gasoline is toxic and highly flammable, with vapours contributing to air pollution.

Oil and Gas Industry Emissions

The oil and gas industry's production, processing, refining, and use emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases, particularly methane, and other toxic gases. Oil refineries and gas processing plants release pollutants during normal operations and accidents, including toxic air pollutants and congenital toxins. Leaks, flames, and excessive emissions from refineries are significant contributors to air pollution.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

VOCs are emitted by vehicles and equipment used in oil operations and from the oil and gas being extracted, stored, and transported. These compounds react with nitrogen oxides and sunlight to form ground-level ozone, causing respiratory issues such as asthma and impaired lung function.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Nitrogen oxides are produced during the combustion of fossil fuels and contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. They can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, respiratory issues, cardiac disorders, and lung damage.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas with a pungent odour, created by burning sulfur-containing fossil fuels. It is a major component of acid rain, along with nitrogen oxides.

Health and Environmental Impacts

A study found that air pollution from the oil and gas sector in the United States led to approximately 7,500 excess deaths, 410,000 asthma attacks, and 2,200 new cases of asthma annually, with health costs totalling $77 billion. The pollutants nitrogen oxide, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and ozone (O3) were the main contributors to these adverse health effects.

Strategies for Reducing Air Pollution

To mitigate the air pollution caused by the oil and gas industry, several strategies can be implemented:

• Reducing methane leaks by improving monitoring equipment and implementing better leak detection and repair systems.
• Controlling VOC emissions by adopting renewable energy and low-carbon technologies, such as equipment electrification and exploring alternate energy options.
• Improving energy efficiency by reducing flaring and the use of related gases, such as selling these gases or converting them into liquefied natural gas.
• Strengthening regulations and enforcement by establishing emission guidelines and encouraging the adoption of clean technologies and practices through fines and incentives.

Water pollution

Petroleum products are a problem when they contaminate drinking water sources, as many petroleum hydrocarbons are highly mobile and can be readily transported to water resources. Petroleum products can contaminate water sources in several ways, including through leaks, car accidents, spills, industrial releases, and spills during transportation and extraction.

Water contamination by petroleum products is a significant issue in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, where the oil industry accounts for over 90% of the country's foreign exchange revenue. The Niger Delta, the third-largest wetland in the world, has experienced long-term leakages from pipelines into freshwater sources. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) found that drinking water wells in Ogale, a community in the Niger Delta, were highly contaminated with a refined oil product, with benzene concentrations up to 1800 times higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (US EPA) drinking water standard.

The health consequences of exposure to petroleum-contaminated water can be severe. A study conducted in Ogale found statistically significant associations between exposure to contaminated drinking water and self-reported health symptoms, including neurological effects, hematological effects, and irritation.

The impacts of oil spills on water quality and ecology can be long-lasting, affecting both seawater and freshwater areas. Oil spills can harm marine life, including birds, mammals, fish, and shellfish. They can also have economic and social consequences, affecting industries such as fishing and tourism, property values, and human health.

To mitigate the risks of oil spills and leaks, various measures can be taken, including better tanker design, enhanced equipment maintenance, improved drilling methods, and the implementation of automatic leakage detection systems.

Soil pollution

One of the primary risks associated with petroleum-contaminated soil is the potential for human exposure. Petroleum hydrocarbons can migrate from the soil to water resources, and their presence in drinking water poses a significant health hazard. Several of these hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, are known carcinogens. Inhalation of fumes from contaminated soil and ingestion of contaminated soil, particularly by children, can have adverse health effects.

Petroleum-contaminated soil can also negatively impact soil health and affect plant growth. It can harm soil microorganisms, reducing their number and activity. Soil microbes play a crucial role in making nutrients available to plants. The reduction in microbial activity can disrupt plant growth and affect grazing livestock, wildlife, and plant-eating insects. At high levels of contamination, seeds may struggle to germinate, and even mature plants may struggle to grow. Additionally, some petroleum products can clog the soil, impeding the movement of water and air to plant roots, resulting in drought-like symptoms.

The extent of soil contamination can vary, ranging from small-scale contamination due to leaks and spills to large-scale contamination resulting from industrial releases, transportation accidents, and extraction processes. The remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil is crucial to mitigate the environmental and health risks associated with this type of pollution. Remediation strategies can include natural attenuation, where native microbial populations naturally degrade the contaminants, or more active approaches, such as chemical, thermal, and biological treatments.

Health issues

Petroleum, or 'rock oil', has transformed the world we live in. It provides the majority of our energy and fuel requirements, and has made possible the manufacture of a wide range of consumer products. However, there are a number of health issues associated with its use.

Firstly, the combustion of petroleum releases polluting emissions, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which contribute to global climate change. This, in turn, has a range of health impacts, including more intense hurricanes and storms, increased droughts and heatwaves, more frequent flooding, and more severe wildfires. These climate impacts can affect health in a number of ways, including through increased temperatures, which can exacerbate heat-related illnesses and heat stroke, and through the increased spread of vector-borne diseases as warmer temperatures expand the geographic range of disease vectors such as mosquitoes.

In addition to its climate impacts, the extraction, refinement, transportation, and consumption of petroleum can also directly pollute the air, water, and soil, with harmful consequences for human health. For example, a study in Taiwan found a link between proximity to oil refineries and premature births, as well as differences in sex ratios and birth weights of children. Another study in the United States found that air pollution from the oil and gas sector contributed to 7,500 excess deaths, 410,000 asthma attacks, and 2,200 new cases of childhood asthma in 2016. The pollutants nitrogen oxide, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and ozone (O3) were found to be the highest contributors to these health impacts.

Furthermore, exposure to petroleum and its products can cause a range of health issues, including DNA damage, birth defects, lowered white blood cell count, miscarriages, infertility, and cancers of different organs. For example, benzene, which is present in crude oil and gasoline, is known to cause leukaemia and to lower white blood cell counts, leaving people more susceptible to infections.

Finally, the environmental impacts of petroleum pollution can also have indirect effects on human health. For instance, oil spills can contaminate water sources, destroy ecosystems, and disrupt local economies, leading to psychological health issues for affected communities.

Frequently asked questions