16/08/2021
Given the recent massive oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Paria on the 8th August 2021, I decided to put together this post to inform persons about the environmental consequences of such a disaster.
1. When an oil slick reaches a beach, it coats every rock and grain of sand it comes into contact with. If the oil washes into coastal marshes, mangrove forests, or other wetlands, fibrous plants and grasses absorb oil, which can damage plants and make the area unfit as a wildlife habitat or nesting/breeding grounds.
2. When oil sinks to the bottom of the sea, fragile underwater ecosystems are damaged. Fish can be killed or contaminated as some compounds such as PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) have environmental persistence and bioaccumulative potential. The food chain becomes risky for humans as a result.
3. Oil covered birds are a universal symbol of environmental damage wreaked by oil spills. By coating their feathers, oil not only makes flying impossible but also inhibits birds' natural waterproofing and insulation, leaving them vulnerable to hypothermia or overheating.
4. Oil spills frequently kill marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals and sea otters. Oil can clog blowholes of whales and dolphins, making it impossible for them to breathe properly. Marine mammals that eat contaminated fish can be poisoned by the oil constituents.
Long term damage from an oil spill can linger in the environment and may not be visible to the naked eye. There are alot of human health hazards associated with oilspills as well.
I hope the investigations and relevant analyses surrounding this latest oil spill scandal can provide the answers we need. It was nice to see alot of you guys sharing the posts by .
