Negative Human Impact on Earth’s Water By: Willow Squires

WHAT IS OIL POLLUTION? Oil pollution, or an oil spill, is the release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon (oil) into the environment due to human activity. Although oil spills can also occur on land, the term ‘oil spill’ is usually applied to marine oil spills, which is where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters. Oil pollution is also caused by things like oil from recreational boating, drainage from cities and farms, and untreated waste from factories and businesses.

WHAT IMPACT DOES OIL POLLUTION HAVE ON OCEANS? Oil pollution does a large amount of long term and short term damage to marine organisms and ecosystems. Oil pollution harms and kills many plants and animals in that live in the water. Oil can get caught in the feathers of birds, preventing them from keeping heat in and can cause hypothermia. Oil can also cover the gills and body of fish, which is suffocating, and can destroy the environment where fish lay eggs. Oil pollution affects many organisms that live in the water.

WHAT IMPACT DOES OIL POLLUTION HAVE ON PEOPLE? Oil pollution can also harm people. When winds blow oily sea water into the air as sea spray, the spray contains tiny droplets of oil, which can then be inhaled into the lungs. This can cause people to become sick.

HOW CAN WE AS PEOPLE HELP? We can decrease the amount of oil spills by lessening our dependence on petroleum products like plastic containers, and polyester clothes, and instead use recycled and biodegradable products. We can also walk, ride bikes, or carpool, to decrease the demand for oil, therefore lessening the amount of oil used, and the amount of oil that needs to be drilled.