What affects do oil spills have?

Answer 1

As the oil continues to spill from the well, the impact to the environment will continue to be assessed. There are a number of government agencies, NOAA, EPA and US Coast Guard, all participating in this effort. This is an ongoing event and my information is only current to May 18. Water samples are being taken and analyzed. The most recent data (about a week old) is posted on the EPA website (see related links).

The EPA reports the impact as of May 9 is low. This is subject to revision as more water samples are taken and analyzed.

Much of the gulf is closed to shrimping because of concerns of health risk due to the contaminated water. The immediate effect of this oil spill is on sea birds. Oil gets into their wings and they can not fly. Oil spills have many potential impacts on the coast marine life, as discussed in the links provided.

There is concern that some of the spilled oil may be entering into the loop current, which is a fast moving current, capable of moving the oil far beyond the current area.

Oil pollution has an effect not only on humans but also on animals. Animals can die from ingestion of oil from cleansing their feathers; in a bird's case, or their fur; in a sea otter or seal's case. But their are other things that some people don't even notice are being harmed by oil spills, and that is micro organisms or zooplankton. They are microscopic, ocean dwellers that are being hurt by large oil spills.

Please examine the links. You can find more information on the effects of oil spills on the environment in general, with these links and others on the internet. Please note each spill is uniquely different and will have different impacts on the environment.
The effects of crude oil on the environment can be simulated if everything around you, including you is layered with crude oil, including your eyes, your food, your drinking water and yourself. There's also a layer of crude oil blocking out the sun, killing all plants and crops. (simulating oil on top of seawater)

Answer 2

Marine creatures can't escape for oil slicks. It sticks to their skin and may never come off. If the poison doesn't kill them, then their ability to reproduce will be deformed. Not only are seals, dolphins and whales are affected, but microorganisms and shellfish like clam, mussels and clams are very vulnerable and could die. Fish die because the oil gets into their fins, prohibiting their breathing patterns.
it has killed over tens of thousands of sea birds and otters and seals along with 250 eagles and 22 killer whales.

Answer 3

Oil spills are big problems to our waters, and they affect our environment by killing our fish and polluting our coastal areas.

-Nia Williams
Oli has an Affect on the global environment as is increases and causes global warming.

Answer 4

It kills the animals or sea creatures living in the water it can also harm the cleaners because they can breathe in the toxic oil vapour that comes out of the oil and harm there lungs and liver.>>>MEMO<<<

Answer 5

I think you are asking if the spill damage extends beyond the Gulf Coast area. My answer is yes for air pollution and a maybe for water pollution.

First, the air pollution issue. I would say there is an impact that can be identified but difficult to assess. There is a release of natural gas into the atmosphere which is a greenhouse gas. Much of the oil spill is evaporating on the ocean surface, releasing more greenhouse gases.

BP has received permission to burn the large volumes of oil it is capturing offshore, which will pollute the atmosphere, and release greenhouse gases. Burning is not preferred, but is considered the safer option than bringing in more boats to unload the oil.

Now the water pollution issue. For the oil spill to extend beyond the gulf, it must be able to flow out of the Gulf and cause harm in the Atlantic. This is a very difficult to show at present and may become a rather contentious issue. The southern edge of the spill is becoming more fragmented, and difficult to track. So far, the modeling efforts show none of the oil will escape enter the Atlantic through the loop current, but their forecasts are only two days in the future.

Even more difficult to identify is the trajectory of underwater clouds (underwater currents that contain many small tar balls) that have formed and are being carried by ocean currents. The media refers to these as plumes. The fate and impact of the clouds may be open to conjecture for some time.

Answer 6

The oil spill will make the birds feather stick together and they cannot fly and oil spills are dirty water but plants cannot grow in dirty water.

Answer 7

Oil spills usually cause the death of millions of animals in the water. It also pollutes the water.

Answer 8

They pollute the water and kill animals.