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Remember that oil does not dissolve in water,
but does like to stick to other oils.
Many marine organisms such as birds and
otters have natural oils on their feathers/fur.
Crude oil will dissolve in this natural oil,
coating the organism. CLICK THIS FOR VIDEO
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Remember that oil does not dissolve in water,
but does like to stick to other oils.
Many marine organisms such as birds and
otters have natural oils on their feathers/fur.
Crude oil will dissolve in this natural oil,
coating the organism.
Oil can also get in the
organisms eyes, lungs, and
stomach.
Ingestion or inhalation of oil
can have profound effects on
both human and marine life.
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Crude oil is composed of multiple types of
hyrocarbons.
These hydrocarbons vary in size and state of
matter. Some may be liquid others gaseous.
These molecules can be very toxic to cells. (2)
3
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Benzene (and other components of oil) are nonpolar.
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They easily dissolve in the phospholipids of cell
membranes.
These molecules can dissolve membranes, destroying
cells. (2)
Benzene is fairly
stable and therefore
persistent in the
environment. (5)
4
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Upon inhalation, it can induce:
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Neurological effects (ie. loss of consciousness and
convulsions)
Dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting.
Skin, eye and lung irritation (even blisters).
Immunologic complications. (6)
Benzene can also depress bone marrow
functioning in humans.
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This leads to reduces blood cell counts.
It may be linked to forms of leukemia. (7)
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Because of its toxicity, oil can effect all
marine life at every level of the food chain.
Small single celled organisms like
phytoplankton may become toxic due to
exposure.
These or the oil itself may be eaten by other
organisms (ie. fish).
The toxic components of oil can then
biomagnify as they move up the food chain.
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Not only are organisms exposed to the oil
itself, they are consuming the toxins!
8
How does it get there?
Why is it so bad?
 Remember that oil is persistent and the
components vary in size.
 This is what makes it so difficult to contain
and clean.
 Ocean currents, type of shoreline, weather
conditions, depth of spill and type of oil all
have an effect on how bad it will be.
9
9
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Feb 2001 – Deepwater Horizon arrives in the
Gulf of Mexico.
April 20, 2010 – an explosion and resulting fire
kills 11 people and injures 17.
April 22, 2010 – the rig sinks and first signs of
an oil slick begin to appear.
April 25, 2010 – underwater sensing equipment
suggest that 1,000 barrels per day
are leaking into the Gulf of
Mexico. This estimate increased
to 5,000 bpd by the 28th. (10)
Response
 Initial response was to put out fires and find
missing workers.
 Secondary response was to stop oil from a bent
and leaking valve 5,000 feet deep.
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Tried plugging with mud
Tried putting a cement hat on the well.
Tried robots with diamond-blade
saws to cut the bent valve and recap.
Tried a relief well.
Finally, on July 15, 2010, the well was capped.
Relief wells were finished to reduce pressure.
Total spill - 4.9 million barrels (11)
1 barrel = 42 gallons
4.9 million barrels = 2.06 billion gallons
Put into perspective
1 Olympic swimming pool = 660,430 gallons
Deepwater Horizon spill = 3,116 Olympic pools
Now that the oil is spilled. How do we clean it?
 Dispersants
 Sorbents
 Booms
 Skimmers
 Pumps
 Tow outside
environment
11
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Working in pairs, you will each research and
present a different cleanup technique.
You will have about 20-30 minutes to prepare
your presentation.
We will present tomorrow.
1. Image: Encyclopedia of the Earth. Accessed on 12/11/2010 from
http://www.eoearth.org/files/133001_133100/133047/otteroilclean.jpg
2. Reinhardt, D. Crude Environmental Oil – Potential Hazard to Life and Living Organisms. (2010). The Science
Super School Online. Accessed on 12/2/2010 from http://reinhardtmicrobiology.com/crude-oilspills-mdash-biological-medical-chemical-dangers.html
3. Image: Fourwinds10.com. Accessed on 12/11/2010 from http://www.cassiopaea.org/images/benzene.gif
4. Image: Wikipedia. Accessed on 12/11/2010 from
http://en.wikivisual.com/images/e/ee/CellMembraneDrawing.jpg
5. Committee on Oil in the Sea: Inputs, Fates, and Effects, National Research Council. Oil in the Sea III:
Inputs, Fates, and Effects. (2003). The National Acadamies Press. ISBN-10: 0-309-08438-5. Accessed on
12/2/2010 from http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10388&page=20
6. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Benzene - Draft. (1997).
U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA.
7. Snyder, R and CC Hedli. An Overview of Benzene Metabolism. Environmental Health Perspectives. (1996)
Vol 104, Supplement 6. Accessed on 12/2/2010 from
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/realfiles/docs/1996/Suppl-6/snyder.html#summary
8. Image: Government of Alberta Water Quality Information. Accessed on 12/12/2010 from
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/wat3351
9. Image: Wikipedia Deepwater Horizon. Accessed on 12/12/2010 from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon
10. Deepwater Horizon: A timeline of Events. Offshore-Technology.com. (2010). Accessed on 12/11/2010
from http://www.offshore-technology.com/features/feature84446/
11. Cleveland, C. Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Encyclopedia of the Earth. (5 Dec 2010). Accessed on 12/2/2010
from http://www.eoearth.org/article/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill?topic=50364