Oil spills are often highlighted as one of the many ways the ocean is polluted by human activities. Not only do oil spills harm ocean wildlife, but it also contaminates the coastline and the ocean habitat. Oil flows into the ocean through facilities, boats, tankers, and broken equipment, affecting the lungs of ocean animals if inhaled, slowly killing coral reefs, and drowning otters or birds by damaging their fur’s insulating ability.
Most varieties of oils float on the ocean’s surface, making it incredibly easy for sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and many other marine animals to inhale and consume this potent substance. Since the sticky nature of oil damages the ability for fur-bearing mammals to repel water, hypothermia will gradually creep upon them until they die. After the oil is ingested, it can not only affect an animal’s lungs, but their immune system and reproductive system as well (National Ocean Service). Fish are also susceptible to the effects of oil spills, which eventually works its way up to us humans through the food chain. Marine wildlife such as sea otters and seabirds are often in the danger of drowning due to exposure to oil on the surface of the ocean. Though the animals can try to clean the residue off, it leads to their ingestion of poison that also damages their liver, lung, and overall health.
Besides damaging the health of many marine animals, oil spills also victimize the environment. Oil not only sticks to the fur of many oceanic animals but it affects every small shore habitat after the layers of oil is washed up from the ocean. It also affects the next generation of marine animals for the ocean ecosystem, as the shoreline is often used as the “nurseries for fish and marine life” (Sciencing). Only through weather and time will the oil break down, leading to the continued damage of the coastline’s environment until environmentalists arrive to clean the area.
Oil spills vandalize the ocean environment along with issues such as plastic pollution, overexploitation of fishing, habitat destruction, and ocean acidification led by climate change. Enough damage has been done by the humans to the environment and the animals living in it -- the environment needs our help.
Comments