Question

Explain any two environmental impacts of an ‘oil spill’.

Answer 1

Oil spill or Leaks: Oil is lighter and insoluble in water and oil layer floats on the surface of water and prevents oxygen transfer from atmosphere.
Oil leakage and petroleum products into sea water due to accidents of ships and oil tankers or leakage of pipe lines and storage tanks. They occur when oil is being produced from offshore well and may happen due to transportation by pipes and tanks, oil refineries, petrochemical plants, etc.
Damage caused by oil spills :

1. Fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians living in such water cannot breathe and die. The oil penetrates the birds feathers and they cannot fly and affect their insulation and damages the reproductive system.
2. It interrupts the food chain which may cause the extinction of species.