There are hundreds of ships that run aground, which is the term meaning hitting the bottom of a river, ocean, seabed, etc. One of the most horrific and devastating spills happened in 1978, when the US tanker, named the Amoco Cadiz, ran aground spilling over sixty-five million gallons of oil into the water. Much of the oil sank to the ocean bed causing sedimentation, which is when the oil mixes with clay and other minerals on the seabed and causes a hard mixture that kills animals and organisms.
Ships are not the only cause for oil spills though, oil plants can collapse and explode, too. In Mexico, 1979, the Ixtoc spilled an estimated 800,000 tons of oil into the water. Of this, about 10,000 caught fire. This causes smoke to pollute the air, and the ashes that were created were carried overland for hundreds of miles, killing animals and one or two humans. This is people when the air blew the ash miles away, because unknowingly drank polluted water and inhaled toxic air. About 114,000 tons of that oil started to biodegrade, which means the petroleum of the oil break down into simpler substances.
Harsh types of oil can burn eyes, burn skin, irritate or damage sensitive membranes in the nose, eyes and mouth. Hydrocarbons can trigger pneumonia if it enters lungs. Benzine, toluene and other light hydrocarbons of oil and fuels if inhaled, are transferred rapidly to the bloodstream from the lungs and can damage red blood cells, suppress immune systems, strain the liver, spleen and kidneys and even interfere with the reproductive system of animals and humans. As you can tell, there is a very serious health risk involved to humans.
In general, refined petroleum products tend to be more toxic to organisms but less spread in the environment. Crude oils and heavy fuel oils like bunker fuels tend to be less toxic but are more easily spread and more likely to have physical impacts on wildlife examples would be like coating feather, fur and skin.
In 1969, the United States Congress passed the National Environmental Policy Act requiring studies of the environment to be done before oil drilling or any other study that could potentially damage the environment. This act has helped the US make the world a much cleaner and safer place.
Although we have these restrictions accidents still happen. In 2003 alone, there was 42,000 tons of oil spilled in 19 different spills. It is getting better from year to year, though. In comparison, in 195 there was around 34 spills that spills compared the previously mentioned 19 in 2003.
In conclusion, I feel that more and more people are becoming educated about oil spills and their effects of the well being of animals and humans alike. They also learned that ships are not the only threats out there. It causes lots of trouble and other alternatives should be found immediately. When will everyone realize that we are guests in this world and we should treat it accordingly?
Bibliography
Environmental Protection Agency. 11 May 2004. US Government. 16 May 2004
<http://www.epa.gov/>.
Environmental Protection Agency: Oil Spills. 11 May 2004. US Government. 16 May 2004
<http://www.epa.gov/oilspills/>.
NMFS Alaska Office of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Damage Assessment and
Restoration. US Government, Alaska Regional Office. 15 Mar. 2004
<http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/oil/default.htm>.
NMFS Alaska Office of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Damage Assessment and Restoration. http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/oil/default.htm
The Fate of Spilled Oil. http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/oilfate.htm
Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov