OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP – STATION 5
WHAT IS THIS?
HOW DOES IT
WORK?
An oil spill occurs when oil is accidentally released into the environment,
and generally occurs in marine areas/ecosystems. Oil spills are regarded
as a massive loss in revenue for the company as the spilled oil has been
wasted and is unmarketable, but also, the company must pay for the
cleanup of the spilled oil, which poses a risk to all organisms in the area.
To reduce risk to the ecosystem and its inhabitants, multiple forms of
clean-up methods exist to (partially) remedy the damage caused by the
spill.
OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP
Oil spills, whether on land or water, pose a threat to the habitat and organisms in
surrounding areas, and containment of the spill is one of the largest challenges.
Several containment methods are used to prevent/minimalize damage to surrounding
habitats and organisms. These include:
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WHY DOES IT
MATTER FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT?
Mechanical containment or recovery: first line of defense against oil spills. Using
booms to contain the spill, a combination of skimmers and sorbents are used to
collect and remove the oil.
Chemical and biological methods: use of dispersing agents to break the oil into
small droplets which are further broken down by wave action. Biological
methods include adding fertilizers to a spill to stimulate growth of
microorganisms which biodegrade the oil.
OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP
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Oil contains many harmful chemicals that are introduced during extraction, but
also oil itself has toxic effects which pose health risks. If an oil spill on land is not
properly handled, toxins can enter the soil and seep into the water table, or bind
to the soil itself and affect future productivity of the land, not to mention the
harmful effects on organisms coming into contact with the spill.
In aquatic ecosystems, similar issues exist with regards to containment and
minimalizing the impacts on organisms in the area.
In this activity, students will get hands-on experience in attempting to “clean-up”
an oil spill, understanding the difficulties associated with a complete and quick
clean-up.