Annotated Bibliography on Effects of Oil Spillage on Marine Life

Abstract

Oil spillage has significantly affected marine life negatively. Many plants and animals have encountered physical barriers (such as loss of insulation in sea otters) due to exposure to oil spillages. Others, such as dolphins and whales, have encountered health problems due to breathing in or consuming the toxins. Oil leakage threatens the oceanic ecosystem and could lead to the extinction of various plants and animal species if not adequately addressed. The following sources explain the various impacts of oil spillage on aquatic life and the means that authorities have taken to curb the issue.

Mansir, N. (2012). ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF MARINE OIL SPILL; A CASE STUDY OF DEEP WATER HORIZON OIL SPILL AT THE GULF OF MEXICO UNITED STATE OF AMERICA 2010 (A REVIEW). Chemsearch Journal, 3(2), 64–70. Retrieved 28 September 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308416188_ENVIRONMENTAL_IMPACTS_OF_MARINE_OIL_SPILL_A_CASE_STUDY_OF_DEEP_WATER_HORIZON_OIL_SPILL_AT_THE_GULF_OF_MEXICO_UNITED_STATE_OF_AMERICA_2010_A_REVIEW.

This source talks about the most extensive oil spillage in the United States, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that happened in the Gulf of Mexico on 20 April 2010. Mansir talks about the spill’s impacts that lasted long after the leakage occurred. He talks about the composition of oil (such as hydrocarbons) and the impact and potential deaths of these components on marine life. Mansir also discusses the various methods the authorities used to clean the devastation and their effectiveness and impact on aquatic life.

Michel, J., & Fingas, M. (2016). Oil Spills: Causes, Consequences, Prevention, and Countermeasures. World Scientific Series In Current Energy Issues, 159-201. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814699983_0007

This source explains the source and impact of oil spillage. It provides that despite the efficient methods that industries have put to curb the situation, a significant amount of spillage still occurs mainly due to human error and equipment failure. It also explains the increased Arctic maritime activity, deep-water exploration, and transport of crude oil by rail and how these factors pose and contribute to the risk of oil spillage.

NOAA. (2021). How does oil impact marine life?. Oceanservice.noaa.gov. Retrieved 28 September 2022, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oilimpacts.html.

This source explains the effects that oil spillage has on aquatic animals. It explains how oil destroys the insulating capability of fur-bearing mammals such as sea otters. It also explains the damage that oil does to birds’ water repellency, exposing these creatures to severe conditions. These animals could die due to hypothermia without insulation and water repulsion capabilities. The source also explains the effect that oil has on animals that consume or inhale toxic substances and the damage that such animals can cause to humans who consume them.

Oil spills. Noaa.gov. (2020). Retrieved 28 September 2022, from https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/oil-spills.

This source defines oil and explains how and where oil spillage happens. It also explains how the toxic substance harms and kills ocean life in two ways; fouling (when oil physically hurts a plant or animal) and oil toxicity (when oil’s toxic compounds cause health issues in aquatic plants and animals). Lastly, the source explains the various bodies that clean up oil spillage in the ocean and how they perform such a task.

Oil spills: A major marine ecosystem threat. Noaa.gov. (2016). Retrieved 28 September 2022, from https://www.noaa.gov/explainers/oil-spills-major-marine-ecosystem-threat.

This source has a similar structure to the previous one, only that this one goes to a deeper extent and is subcategorized into five subtopics. The first section explains how oil spillage occurs in various ways, such as human error or negligence and ignorance, breaking down of equipment, natural disasters such as high winds, and thoughtful terrorist actions. This section explains why the spillage is dangerous – how it forms an oil slick – and its impact on sea life. The following two sections explain how oil spillage is cleaned and the technology and tools involved in the process. The last two sections discuss the next steps authorities take after cleaning up the oil leakage and the present Arctic challenge.

Rout, C., & Sharma, A. (2013). Oil Spill in Marine Environment: Fate and Effects. ResearchGate. Retrieved 28 September 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337972971_Oil_Spill_in_Marine_Environment_Fate_and_Effects.

Like Mansir, Rout and Sharma define oil spillage and its effects based on its hydrocarbon contents. They also explain the dynamic effects of oil spillage on marine life due to its dynamic nature when exposed for a long time.