Marine Oil Spills

The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that “almost 14,000 thousand oil spills are reported each year” (“Response”). Hence, it is clear that as the world continues to use this powerful, non-renewable resource more and more, accidents are very possible at any time. Moreover, oil spills damage the planet and society in numerous ways. As a result of marine oil spills, the organisms, the environments, and the economy suffer.

Firstly, many organisms take damage when it comes to oil spills. However, some scientists argue that while there is definitely damage at the individual level, most populations are able to survive and continue to live in the area (“Effects of Oil Spills”). Populations, in general, are robust enough to survive most precarious situations. The effects the oil has on living things are classified as either lethal or nonlethal (“Life”). Although the nonlethal effects may not kill the organism directly, it may lead to the organism not being able to protect itself from predators. The animals that are the most affected by the oil include sea birds, sea otters, sea turtles, and fishes (“Oil Spills”). For sea otters and sea birds, the oil is dangerous because of its ability to coat these animals’ fur and feathers. The oil coating is threatening because it can lead to the animals not being able to control their own body temperature, which eventually can lead to hypothermia (“Oil Spills”). The oil can physically prevent these animals from executing homeostasis. Sea turtles do not instinctively avoid the oil and the water, and they sometimes ingest the oil when they come up to breathe (Patin). All turtles need to breath, but in an oil spill, they end up consuming the oil that remains on the su...

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...nomic purposes worldwide. All in all, oil spills are severely crippling to the world as they tarnish the magnificent waters of Earth.

Works Cited

“Effects of Oil Spills on marine Life.” Oceana.org. 2012. Web. 2 Mar 2014.

“Effects of Oil Spills.” ITOPF.com. International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation, 2013. Web. 2 Mar 2014.

“How Does the BP Oil Spill Impact Wildlife and Habitat?” NWF.com. National Wildlife Federation. Web. 2 Mar 2014.

“Oil Spills.” NOAA.gov. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 18 Feb 2014. Web. 24 Feb 2014.

“Oil Spill Response Techniques.” EPA.gov. Environmental Protection Agency, 2 Jan 2014. Web. 2 Mar 2014.

Patin, Stanislav. “Oil Spill.” eoearth.org. Encyclopedia of Earth, 28 May 2010. Web. 2 Mar 2014.

“The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill.” neaq.org. New England Aquarium. Web. 2 Mar 2014.