An oil spill is the releasing of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment through human activity, polluting both marine and coastal waters from tankers, rigs, and wells. Oil spills have negative effects like destroying habitats, causing air and water pollution, and harming wildlife through inhalation or contact with their feathers or skin. Some of the largest oil spills in history included the Torrey Canyon, Sea Star, Odyssey, and M/T Haven spills, totaling over 150 million gallons spilled. Methods to remedy oil spills include using booms, skimmers, pads, spreading chemicals, adding bacteria, and manual labor with shovels.
2. What Is An Oil Spill
• Releasing of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the
environment due to human activity and is a form of pollution.
• Can also be a marine oil spill, in which oil is released into the
ocean or coastal waters.
• It includes the releasing of crude oil from tankers, offshore
platforms, drilling rigs, and wells.
3.
4. Negative Effects Of An Oil Spill
• Oil can lead to air pollution.
• Oil destroys the habitat of marine life.
• Oil can lead to acid rain.
• Oil washes up on beaches and marshes resulting in life threatening
habitats for wildlife species.
• Sea turtles, birds, whales, fish, otters, and other marine life can be
oil-soaked and die.
• Oil spills cause damage to flora fauna.
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6. Four Major Oil Spills In History
• TheTorrey Canyon Oil Spill – March 18,1967
25 – 36 million gallons
• The Sea Star Oil Spill - December 19, 1972
35.3 million gallons
• Odyssey Oil Spill – November 10, 1988
40.7 million gallons
• M/T HavenTanker Oil Spill – April 11, 1991
45 million gallons
