1. Oil Spills

2. What is an Oil Spill? Oil is the most common pollutant of water
3 million tonnes of oil pollute water each year
Majority of Spills caused by run off and wastes from large cities and industries

3. Oil Floats Oil floats because it is less dense than water (0.88g/cm3)
Oil floating helps with water cleanup
Oil floats, but moving surface water can cause the oil to MIX with the water

4. Environmental Impact: What affects do Oil Spills have on Animals?
Seabirds
Strongly affected
Ways to die from Oil Spill
Feathers are covered with oil
Hard to fly and escape predators
Cleaning themselves
Blinding them
Most die unless humans intervene

6. Environmental Impact Killer Whales Sea Otters
Fur gets covered in oil which disrupts air bubbles
Air bubbles for warmth
Air bubbles to float
Ways to die from Oil Spills
Eat fish that swam in oil
Plug the blowhole with oil and drown
Becoming endangered
Die from cold waters
Placed in captivity for support
Example: Gulf of Mexico
Spill –
video

7. Clean up Methods
There are different methods that can be used to clean up oil spills on water.
The choice of which method depends on
Time
Cost
Environmental impacts
HW-Complete the chart on clean up methods worksheet and answer q1-4