Q. 34.0( 2 Votes )
What are three common sources of oil spills, and how do they affect sea life.
Oil spills are commonly caused by:
(i) Overturned oil tankers:
When oil tankers get involved in accidents or are overturned; then the oil from them spills into the water body. We are talking about the scenarios in which the oil tankers are transported by waterways.
(ii) Offshore mining:
Sometimes the site of mining undergoes an explosion. There are several cases that can be taken as examples. The explosion results in the release of huge quantities of oil into the water body.
(iii) Oil refineries:
When the pumps and storage containers are not maintained well, then this leads to oil spills. Hence, it is extremely important to maintain the storage containers well.
Consequences of an oil spill:
When oil enters the aquatic body, then it interferes with the aquatic life. The seabirds and sea animals, including the flora and fauna, get coated with the thick greasy liquid. At most times, it is even ingested by the organisms. This causes irritation in their digestive systems and also damages the liver and kidneys.
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