Oil Spills

Question 1

How do oil spills occur?

Answer 1

• cargo tanker washings at sea (discharging contaminated oil-water bc it was used to stabilize the craft)
• in-port oil losses (collisions to the court)
• tanker accidents
• exploration losses (oil spilled during exploration for and production of oil due to blowout of wells and accidental damage to offshore drilling rigs)
• motor oil
• waste oil dumping at sea `

Question 2

Short-Term Effects of Oil Spills

Answer 2

• reduction of light transmission (threatens photosynthesis and plant growth)
• reduction in dissolved oxygen (oil film hinders the rate of oxygen uptake by water)
• damage to marine birds (oil causes the birds feathers to mat together, reducing the birds’ ability to fly and float, lose insulating ability)
• toxic effects on the marine environment

Question 3

Long-Term Effects of Oil Spills

Answer 3

• block taste receptors of organisms or mimicking natural stimuli, affecting the chemical messengers in seawater
• crude oil can be congested by organisms and pass along the food chain to organisms that are then harvested human consumption
• oils have higher concentrations of poisons such as pesticides and can be ingested by organisms and animals at higher levels than normal

Question 4

What factors make oil spills difficult to clean?

Answer 4

• the size of the spill
• location away from shore
• response speed (slow response lets oil disperse)

Question 5

Booms and barriers

Answer 5

contain the soil slick, makes it easier to skim

Question 6

Skimmers

• What are they used for?
• How are they employed?
• How are the collected substances disposed of?
• Limitations

Answer 6

• used to remove oil from the surface of the water
• attached to ships/hand-held along a shoreline
• oil and water are separated into storage tanks within the ship, and the oil collected is disposed of or reclaimed, while the water is dumped back into the water
• only useful on calm waters

Question 7

Sorbents

• Use
• Examples

Answer 7

• materials that have been used to soak up and contain oil spills
• powdered clay, sawdust, pine bark, polyurethane

Question 8

Chemical dispersants, detergents, and solvents

• Use
• Drawbacks

Answer 8

• used to degrade the oil
• most of these chemicals are toxic to benthic (bottom-dwelling) organisms, littoral (shore-dwelling) organisms, and open water marine life

Question 9

Flames

• Use
• Drawbacks

Answer 9

• Bum the oil

- However, does not undergo complete combustion and the unburned black smoke contains toxic pollutants

Question 10

What does bioremediation for oil spills entail?

Answer 10

• bioengineer microorganisms that can be used to degrade petroleum products and other hazardous pollutants
• seed/fertilize an oil spill with a high concentration of these microorganisms, called petrophiles (bacteria, yeasts, and fungi) which will then biologically degrade oil and convert it into masses of food and non-toxic living cells
• these petrophiles are dispersed over the affected area by means of boats, aircraft, or other vehicles, can also be on tanks with oil residue
• may be mixed with nutrients like nitrogen/phosphorus which enhance their growth, absorb oil and allow them to continue degrading the oil
• degraded oil bits will later be consumed by aquatic life

Question 11

What are ways to avoid oil spills?

Answer 11

• implementing stricter regulations for oil dumping
• stabilizing oil tankers without contamination
• decreasing the chances of tanker accidents and import oil losses through collisions by improving navigation technology and safeguard measures
• routine inspection of oil-storing tanks and immediate repairs of cracks
• reduce dependence on oil by using hydrogen cell-powered or electric cars

Question 12

Of the following factors, which which are benefits for mechanical clean-up of oil spills?

• Human Labor
• Equipment
• Time Requirements for Clean-Up
• Environmental Friendliness
• Response Time to Spill
• Efficiency in Cleaning up Large Spill
• Resistance to Prevailing Weather Conditions

Answer 12

• Time Requirements for Clean-up

- Resistance to Prevailing Weather Conditions

Question 13

Of the following factors, which are the benefits for bioremediation clean-up of oil spills?

• Human Labor
• Equipment
• Time Requirements for Clean-Up
• Environmental Friendliness
• Response Time to Spill
• Efficiency in Cleaning up Large Spill
• Resistance to Prevailing Weather Conditions

Answer 13

• Human Labor
• Equipment
• Environmental Friendliness
• Response Time to Spill
• Efficiency in Cleaning up Large Spill

Question 14

How are humans affected by oil spills?

Answer 14

• affects the economy through harming the fishing industry (and other aquatic food sources) and the tourism industry
• organisms that ingest harmful oil compounds can pass up through the food chain