Oil Pollution in water
Petroleum is a naturally occurring mixture of organic chemicals, the most abundant of which are hydrocarbons (Gale, 2014). Petroleum is a natural may exist in gaseous, liquid, or near-solid phases either alone or in combination (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013). The liquid phase is commonly called crude oil, while the more solid phase may be called bitumen, tar, pitch, or asphalt (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013). There are many types of petroleum ranging from gaseous methane with only 16 g/mole, to very complex substances weighing more than 20 000 g/mole (Gale, 2008). Some crude oils are thick and viscous, while others are light and unstable (Gale, 2008).
Oil is one of the most common water pollutants in the world, primarily because of how much is used on a daily basis (National Research Council, 2014). Spills, leaks and improper disposal lead to oil seeping into our water supply and contaminating it. According to Gale (2008), Oil spills are created by the accidental or intentional release of crude oil (petroleum). When spilled into rivers, streams, or marine environments, oil can damage ecosystems far from the original spill areas. Even though the oil spill is cleaned and the water is decontaminated, the petroleum leaves behind residues of relatively heavy molecules that are more persistent in terrestrial or aquatic habitats, and cause longer-lasting effects. In addition to cost to repair and clean, oil spills can result to economic lost and long term economic damage to the affected areas.
Sources
In our society today, Massive oil spills from damaged supertankers are now rare, because of careful shipping and environmental regulations (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013). Still, some minor oil spills happens and u...
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...synthetic petroleum base oils on the market today. The plant base oil is not only from a renewable source, it is biodegradable and completely nontoxic. Additionally, motor oils and other lubricants formulated from our products can be dropped into existing motors and equipment without any modification, and can seamlessly fit into the existing recycling streams and collection infrastructures once used.
Future Research
A better monitoring and research should be to measure how much oil is really entering our waters, how much of it is coming from each source and the effects of it in the environment. Also, an in-depth research on oil pollution in deeper waters and oil production in offshore is needed to full understand the nature of the problem. Last and most importantly educate the public so that they are aware of the harmful effects of crude oil in the environment.
The British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was one of the worst ecological catastrophes in human history, causing vast damage to a fragile and beautiful ecosystem while at the same time calling attention to the deficits in current approaches to energy prospecting, risk management, and cleanup. This analysis of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill will devote attention to the following questions: (a) What kind of technology is in use for deep-sea oil extraction, what are the factors that accounted for the BP catastrophe, what were the statistical components of the spill in terms of volume and concentration, and what was the spatio-temporal scale of the oil spill? (b) What were the environmental (physical, biological, hydrological, and atmospheric) impacts of the oil spill, in addition to the economic and social impacts? (c) What were the scientific, technological, and policy solutions implemented by various actors to pursue the cleanup of coastal areas, wildlife, and wetlands damaged by the oil spill? (d) What is the feasibility of long-term biodiversity conservation measures and the limits of such solutions?
Most people believe that one man-made natural disaster would teach us to be better, but we have learned that history repeats itself. The Exxon Valdez oil spill (in 1989) and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, or BP oil spill, (in 2010) were both devastating oil spills that shocked the nation. The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred due to a tanker grounding. The BP oil spill was caused by an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil platform. These two oil spills were both disasters and had greater effects in certain categories. In this essay, I will be comparing the cause of both oil spills, the damage/effect of both oil spills, and the cleanup of each oil spill.
Oil provides us with many necessities in our lives. Cosmetics, medicines, cleaning products, asphalt, food, plastic, and most importantly, petroleum. But of course, nothing comes without a price. The oil that makes our lives so much more convenient, is also ironically gradually killing the environment, this very Earth that we live in. One of the biggest environmental concerns come from oil spills. Oil spill is defined as “ the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially marine areas, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution.” Let’s look at some examples of these oil spills.
Last year, news spread of an oil spill off the Gulf Coast. These events occur periodically and usually register much media attention. As British Petroleum (BP) executives could not shut off the crude oil or prevent the damage it caused, people took notice. Millions of dollars in tourism, commerce and sales were lost. Thousands of wildlife acres and ecosystems were also compromised. There were more questions than answers.
Besides the accidental spillage affecting severe damage to the environment and then causing harm to humans, there are direct impacts on human health from oil. Problems suc...
First of all there is one well known way of making a man made oil which eventually becomes gasoline or diesel fuel, that has been around for a long time, it is called bio fuel. Bio fuel is a fuel that is made from plants or other growin...
Crude oil has may different forms that are found in different parts of the world.1)very light Crude which is used to make gasoline, Jet fuel and Kerosine this oil is highly volatile and can evaporate in a matter of days.2) Light crude which is also used for gasoline and other fuels including diesel oil. These oils are not as volatile but care moderately toxic and evaporate less quickly.3)Medium oils, which accounts for most of the cru...
Because it is the most highly publicized of the different forms of ocean pollution, oil spills, oil leakages, and general oil contamination are something that we all seem to be aware of. Since the Exxon Valdez incident, the American public in particular has been more and more critical of oil companies.Each year, over 700 million gallons of oil end up in the ocean. Contrary to what you may have thought, most oil pollution doesn't come from tanker accidents. In fact, tanker accidents account for less than 90 million of the g...
Petroleum products are one of the most toxic substances to the ecosystem. Oil and chemicals derived from oil get into the water mainly by means of accidental spills from ships, tanker trucks, pipelines, and leaky underground storage tanks. Many petroleum products are poisonous if ingested by animals, and spilled oil damages the feathers of birds or the fur of animals, often causing death.
Today, many marine animals are in danger because of man’s greed for oil. Many people believe that oil spills should be monitored and that the oil company or person that are responsible for the oil spill, must pay a fine to clean it up. Even more Americans believe that oil spills could be reduced if we put limits on the number of drilling platforms and enforce stronger laws and punishments. Oil spills are a cause of accidents on oil drilling platforms, and these spills affect the environment, economy, and tourism industry. Therefore, because oil spills lead to animal deaths, tax increases, and negatively affect gas prices, we must limit oil drilling and increase oil drilling safety procedures to diminish oil spills. Both land and marine animals are immediately impacted by oil spills.
• Petroleum’s many uses. Petroleum today is the source from which we derive many items. The Motor vehicle’s development in the 1930s gave petroleum a new and swiftly expanding role as the primary source of gasoline; oil and then natural gas replaced coal as the primary fuel for industrial and domestic heating. Petrochemicals derived from petroleum became the source of such chemical products as solvents, paints, plastics, synthetic rubber and fibres, soaps and cleansing agents, waxes and jellies, explosives, and fertilizers. Petroleum fuels also generate a large portion of the world's electrical-power supply.
Due to lack of technical know-how and equipment to spray the chemicals, the first few applications of dispersants were ineffective. Because dispersants help to degrade oil and make it to sink into the water rather than removing oil from water, the use of dispersant are limited to spill that occurred at least five kilometers from the shoreline and in water at least 10 meters deep where there is a low impact of dispersant on marine life (Kearney, 2016). For example in the United Kingdom, dispersants cannot be used in water less than 20 m deep without the permission of Environment Food and Rural Affairs department (Alan & et al,
According to the magazine “Oil in the Sea” by Nancy Rabalais “Seventy-five million gallons of oil end up in the ocean every year” (Rabalais 1). When oil reaches the ocean, it is extremely difficult to clean and remains in the ocean for long extended periods of time. It gets into the ocean in many different ways so as of now it is hard to control and stop it. Oil in the ocean comes from human activity and cracks in the ocean floor. According to Joeli Veitayaki, Associate Professor and Head of the School of Marine Studies who has his PhD in Environment and Development says, “Waste oil from some commercial operators is being disposed of in environmentally damaging ways that cause irreparable damage” (3). This shows that oil is being used irresponsibly and should have restrictions on its uses in the ocean to help prevent more marine deaths from happening. When oil miners look for oil, they fire soundwaves at the bottom of the ocean which causes hearing damage and death to marine life. To help save marine life, restrictions should be put on how oil is used in and around the
Industrially used lubricating oil that is easier to recycle and is generally being referred to reprocess them
Levy, Eric M. "Oil Pollution in the World's Oceans." Springer 13.4 (1984): 226-35. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.