COVER STORY
eep into the sea, some oil spill for you; dark, slippery, 90 miles away from the smelly, destructive and a sight so Coast of Sunshine, a lone ugly. dolphin swims just below the water surface. For company, it Oil, often addressed with tags such hasD scores of ‘chocolate coated’ half- as ‘liquid gold’ and ‘fuel elixir’, is an dead birds, dazed fish, soapy algal organic paradox that humanity is so blooms and a thick layer of crude oil dependent on. One of the supporting floating on the water. The playful stilts world economy progresses on, animal that it is, the dolphin decides it is the backbone of the transport to examine the oil-coated birds from and aviation industries. Yet, oil has repeatedly found itself taking the close quarters and raises its head out Spilled on the ocean surface, it is blame for various man-induced of the water. However, what known to cause immediate and environmental damages. It leaches confronts him is a layer of viscous, long-term damage that is likely to from pipelines; blackens the smelly oil, forcing him to rush continue for centuries to come. atmosphere with smog, heating up underwater. Lucky to be blessed with The Exxon Valdez oil tanker tragedy the planet; and unleashes is one such event that continues to fur-less skin, the oil doesn’t coat the destruction on marine ecosystems send reminders in the form of dolphin. But one wouldn’t say the when it spills in the seas. It heralds poisoned fish, blinded turtles, health same about the luck factor of other celebration when struck on ground problems for the fishing families marine animals and birds. For not or in water and triggers residing around the Bligh Reef of only will the oil coat the feathery environmental aggression when Alaska and oily ducks and otters that birds and the furry seals, penguins spilled. It is one of the nature-gifted dig into the ocean floor for food and and sea otters, it will also sign a slow commodities that we wish we could eat settled crude oil, hastening their and torturous death warrant for do without, but cannot. death every time they do so. them. While the dolphin evades the oil, it is more likely to perish in a few Crude oil in the form of marine spills The oil tanker ran aground in the days time due to the toxins and has always given governments, shallow waters of Bligh Reef, spilling Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons environmentalists and oil companies 10.8 million gallons of oil into the sea (PAH) contained in the oil. That’s an more than a dozen reasons to worry. demarcating Prince William Sound
Siphoning the
planet earth | 16 | may 09 few days after the incident, residents It took 10,000 workers, 1,000 boats, 100 airplanes, and the of Sunshine Coast have intimated Navy, Army, and Air Force to clean up the Exxon Valdez the authorities of a red algal bloom at spill. Exxon spent about $ 2.1 billion for the clean up. the mouth of the Maroochy River. This, scientists believe, could be the first sign indicating the leaching of harmful chemicals from the on March 24, 1989. Some of the The affected areas were declared a containers. According to Cerran marine populations that were disaster zone as a navy mine-hunting Fawns, who works with the affected by the spill stretching across ship searched for the lost chemical Maroochy Waterwatch group, the 11,000 miles are yet to recover from containers. large bloom of red algae had been its devastating effects. Local human identified close to a mangrove patch population constantly complain of Scientists warned that the fertiliser in the Maroochy River. Dead fish breathlessness, food poisoning and cargo, together with the oil – which were also found floating around the heavy headedness, even 20 years was lost close to a marine sanctuary after the incident. The worst hit was offering shelter to bottlenose herring fishing, which was a major dolphins, dugongs, different varieties source of livelihood for the plaintiffs of sea otters, turtles and pelicans – who reside in the region. could release nutrient-rich chemicals into the sea. This is likely to feed a In March 2009, more than 40 miles of huge algae bloom that could spell a Australian beaches were blackened marine life catastrophe. Just within a and covered in slush resulting out of the oil that spilled from the Pacific Adventurer, which got caught in rough waters from typhoon Hamish. In addition to the oil from the tanker, some 600 tonnes of explosive ammonium nitrate fertiliser containers were also dumped into the sea.
bloom, which she reveals is growing at an alarming rate.
Oil from the spill, washed up to 16 beaches including Alexandra Headlands, Bulcock Beach, Coolum North, Dicky Beach, Mooloolaba Main Beach, Peregian, North Peregian, Sunrise, Sunshine and Noosa. However, after initial clean- up, they have been opened to the public.
Dr Dilsha Rajapan, scientist at the National Institute of Ocean Whether spilled on water or on Technology, Chennai believes that land, oil can wreak havoc as while the recent oil spills have instances in the last decade have caused quite a stir because of the media’s reach in spreading the news, proved. What’s heartening is the fact oil spills actually occur every day. that their numbers have reduced and “Every year tonnes of oil enters the seas through routine ship and car innovative, environment-friendly methods maintenance, oil drilling operations are emerging to combat the damage they and ship spills. While every spill unleash, writes Sheetal Vyas damages the environment to a certain extent, the size of a spill is
planet earth | 17 | may 09 obviously important. Damage is also assessed based on the kind of oil Oil spills of over 100,000 tonnes spilled and the location in addition to Spill / Tanker Location Date Tons of crude oil the temperature, wind and weather Gulf War oil spill Persian Gulf January 23, 1991 780,000–1,500,000 conditions,” he points out. “Crude oil Ixtoc I oil well Gulf of Mexico June 3, 1979 - and aviation fuel, which also contain March 23, 1980 454,000–480,000 additives that make it stronger, are Atlantic Empress / particularly damaging. And more Aegean Captain Trinidad and Tobago July 19, 1979 287,000 often than not, these are transported Nowruz Field Platform Persian Gulf February 4, 1983 260,000 through ship tankers,” he adds. Prestige Galicia, Spain November 13, 2002 63,000 Sea Empress Wales, UK February 15, 1996 40,000–72,000 Considering the kind of technology that’s put in place to make oil tankers Exxon Valdez Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA March 24, 1989 37,000 leak and spill-proof, it is rather Nakhodka Sea of Japan December, 1997 19,000 surprising that marine oil spills continue to happen on such massive Hebei Spirit oil spill Yellow Sea, South Korea 7 December 2007 10,800 scales. Scientists believe that often, Amorgos Oil Spill Southern coast of Taiwan January 14, 2001 1,150 natural causes and unforeseen Kerch Strait Oil Spill Strait of Kerch, November 11, 2007 1,000 events lead to oil slick disasters. Jessica Galapagos Islands January, 2001 568 “There definitely have been a lot of West Cork oil spill Southern coast of Ireland February 2009 300 technological changes, but one Queensland oil spill Queensland, Australia March 10, 2009 230+ cannot predict the true mood of the Guimaras oil spill Philippines August 11, 2006 172–1,540 sea. If caught in a storm or weakened by one, oil tankers can wreak havoc. They could enter shallow waters and derivatives, which are mostly get grounded, hit rock or even suffer compounds containing sulphur and technological damage. At times it has nitrogen. In addition to these, crude also been noticed that empty tankers oil also contains nickel, vanadium, fill sea water into the space to make iron and other metals. Oil that flows, up for the weight loss and then leaks or spills into the sea sprawls empty the same oily water while mainly horizontally and stays on the filling in the oil. A few dozen tanks surface of water as a thin layer. The doing the same will amount to an most prominent changes in the equally serious oil slick,” says Dr R S composition of the spilled oil happen Kankara, scientist at the Chennai- in the first two days of the spill. It is based Integrated Coastal and Marine observed that almost 50 per cent of Area Management centre. the oil evaporates and what get left Whether spilled accidentally or behind are the heavier and obstinate Resting the blame on ships alone intentionally, oil can never blend contents. Sunlight works at this level may not be appropriate because with water. It can have a smothering and dissolves these components in nations across the world have used effect on marine life, birds and furry the disaster weapon to intimidate animals. A toxic poison, when the sea water through photo- other nations they share hostile ingested by birds and mammals oxidation. This causes the toxicity of relations with. The Gulf War in 1991 while cleaning themselves, oil even sea water to increase, exposing was one such case, when 1,500,000 when it does not kill, can cause marine animals to a larger threat. tonnes of oil was flowed into the sea, genetic disruptions and affect Throwing light on the consequences the repercussions of which are still embryos of marine animals, wiping of oil slick on marine wildlife, Dr felt. Moreover, terrorists have used it out generations. The fumes and time and again to terrorise nations contact with oil can also cause Rajapan explains that it is not and drive in their point. Or, the more nausea and health problems for necessary for the oil to stick to the recent case of the Pennsylvania man, people in affected areas. It can bio- fur, feathers or scales of wildlife to who released thousand gallons of oil accumulate through the food chain affect them. “All kinds of oil, whether into two streams of the Allegheny as fish form a source of basic food for it’s the sticky crude oil or the non- National Forest because he was numerous predators. sticky refined petroleum products, upset with his employer. This imperil wildlife. While the sticky resulted in the death of an unknown What exactly is it about crude oil that ones smother them and cause number of birds, fish, reptiles and has had environmentalists crying prolonged damage settled at the sea amphibians, in addition to polluting hoarse every time it spills? According bed, the non-sticky ones are more the drinking water sources for some to scientific experts, crude oil poisonous because of the refinement tribal communities. contains hydrocarbons and their process,” he adds.
planet earth | 18 | may 09 If the statistics offered by the type of method adopted will depend Keller has a grooved surface. The International Tanker Owners on the area, location, extent of the grooves scoop up more oil than the Pollution Federation (ITOPF) are spill apart from the geology of the smooth-surfaced traditional skimmer. anything to go by, the number of oil ocean bed, coastline and the marine The scraper has been enhanced to spill incidents in recent years has life contained in the ocean where work with the groove geometry, clearly decreased. While the spillage has occurred. removing maximum oil with every incidents have reduced in other rotation. Moreover the grooves have parts, seas surrounding the continent Containing the spread of oil forms an been coated with oil-adhering of Asia have witnessed an increase in important aspect of clean-up, for polymer to add to its efficiency. the number of oil spills. The which floating booms are used. While booming and skimming are transport of oils across these areas These are inflatable foam and plastic the two techniques that are applied has picked up in the last two decades tubes that can pull oil from one area as first measures to recover oil, it is as a result of the demand to fulfill the to a nearby shoreline where it can be possible that they may be rendered energy requirements of the Asian mechanically skimmed, using useless due to the nature of the sea, countries that are getting skimmers and separated from the which could be rough or calm. economically active now. Therefore, water. Innovations continue to be there is an increased risk of ship made in enhancing the mechanical If the area in question experiences accidents and thus spills. devices like the improvised version rough waters, then absorbent of the skimmer developed by Victoria materials such as talc, sawdust, straw Trailing hope Broje and Arturo Keller of the and synthetic sorbents are added to University of California-Santa the surface. These are removed when Extensive research has been put Barbara. A typical skimmer has a they have soaked up oil. One of the underway to ensure that the damage revolving steamroller-like drum that most commonly used remediation done by oil slicks is minimised and a picks up a film of oil on the drum’s methods for oil spills is dispersants. healthy living environment restored surface. The oil is collected by These are chemicals that promote the to the exotic and amazing animal scrapers and dropped into a collector. formation of tiny oil droplets, and and plant life that inhabits the The one developed by Broje and delay the reformation of slicks. They world’s oceans. Since they can be contain surfactants and solvent drastically damaging to the compounds. “Sometimes, oil droplets environment, and may in the long break down because of the high run affect the climate of a particular Year wise representation of spills waves and ocean currents during the area, oil spills require a quick 2000s dispersion process. In such an event, response. It is all the more important 5% water and oil droplets combine to that oil spills be cleaned to the last 1990s form an emulsion, which is highly drop. Having tried for decades to 21% viscose. It is necessary to ensure that soak up that last drop of oil from an there is a balance between natural oil spill, scientists have concluded 1970s dispersion and emulsification,” that it is not possible to render an 54% marine environmental scientist Dr area oil-less after spillage, for it is 1980s likely to take decades to degenerate 20% Reva Solanki informs. However, she and may also settle at the bottom of is of the opinion that dispersants the ocean. But success rate and the work best in warm water and are relatively less effective in case of highly viscous and floating oils because the weathering of oils Areas affected by oil spills causes their properties to change and they become less dispersible. “While they can speedily treat large spills, one should also be warned that certain dispersants can be damaging to the environment owing to their chemical properties,” she adds.
Microbial helpers
There have been incidents when in- situ burning of oils has also been practiced to eliminate oil spills. But this again adds to environmental pollution. Its far-reaching consequences and frequency has
planet earth | 19 | may 09 encouraged scientists to look for chemicals on oil spills depending on practicality of the method is also effective, environment-friendly the presence of oxygen. The being questioned because mudflats methods to clean up oil spills. microbes’ versatility enables them to do not run through every coastline The most widely discussed being survive on most chemical types. and are practically non-existent in bioremediation using microorganism the Arctic and Antarctic oceans, that are present in soil and marine Explaining the process, Dr Aganbi where even a small oil spill can environments. Research by Dr Efe says, “Microorganisms residing in cause greater damage. “This is Aganbi and colleagues at the mudflats and various other habitats simply because of the fact that cold University of Essex has suggested use hydrocarbons as their source of conditions do not harbour the growth that microorganisms that are found carbon and energy. Not all of oil-munching bacteria. These are on mudflats around the coastlines microorganisms however can very delicate oceans and are home to can be heroes of oil spill clean-up degrade hydrocarbons and the a variety of marine animals such as missions because of their ability to microbial species differ depending the harp seal, hermit crab, whales, break down and degenerate on the environment whether marine penguins and exotic fish. The petrochemical residues. or fresh water. The processes microbes are likely to work only in The researchers also state that there involved could be either aerobic or the warmer oceans,” opines Dr Rasik are likely to be noticeable differences anaerobic. Alcanivorax spp, Ravindra, director, National Centre in the speed of degradation of the Cycloclasticus spp and for Antarctic and Ocean Research. Thalassolituus spp, are some of the important microbial genera known to Warming temperatures have indeed degrade hydrocarbons in marine put the Antarctic and Arctic oceans Impact on marine life environments such as mudflats at an increased risk of oil pollution include.” Under aerobic and spill damage because of the easy Oil coating an animal can cause conditions, benzene, navigability offered by the melting hypothermia and limit its toluene and naphthalene, ice, which earlier covered vast ability to swim or fly, and to which are found to occur stretches of the two oceans. “With the maintain its body in petroleum, were clearing of the waterways, it is likely temperature, feed properly, quickly broken down by that more number of ships will ply in and even reproduce the microbes. However, the area and this is bound to Harms habitats, rendering them when studies were carried heighten the risk of oil tanker unsuitable for feeding and nesting out on spills in the absence of accidents because we are not used to oxygen, the process slowed down these seas and are less informed Spills are damaging to intertidal areas significantly and it was only toluene about the types of coastlines they where several species reproduce, as well that broke down. as to wetlands, coral reefs and have and the ocean terrain they hide deep below,” cautions Dr Ravindra. mangroves, which nurture fish The study also revealed that over a Oil can affect the eyes, mouth, and nasal period of time, the types of oil ‘Smoke’ it up tissue, as well as the immune system munching microorganisms also and red blood cells changed according to the In fact, several other scientists have compounds that were being sought answers to the growing Disrupts sensory organs of marine degraded. Napthalene was observed problem of oil spills in oceans around animals, affecting their skills to navigate to promote the growth of the world. Answer in the form of to feed and breed Cycloclasticus spp, a bacterium hydrophobic aerogels has been Oil is composed of many toxic which is known for its ability to break suggested by scientists in Arizona compounds which are carcinogenic down oil residues. These are likely to and New Jersey, who say that help eliminate oil in the most natural aerogels, which are super- Tourism gets directly affected ways and are ideal for estuarine lightweight solid matter, commonly Birds sink or drown because oiled locations. “Estuaries are ideal referred to as “frozen smoke,” could feathers weigh more and cannot keep locations for refineries and prove to be the tool for soaking up oil them buoyant petrochemical facilities – it is from wastewater and effectively essential that mudflats are preserved Seal pups and mothers use scents to siphoning environmental oil spills. to provide a natural clean-up area for identify each other. Oil disguises the pollution,” says Dr Aganbi. The team which includes, Dr Robert scent, leading to rejection, abandonment Pfeffer from the Department of and starvation of pups Mudflats are increasingly being Chemical Engineering, Arizona State Decrease in the thickness of egg shells considered by the scientific world to University, Tempe states that the and changes the cell structure of lesser lap up oil spills and attempts are also environmental challenges posed by animals being made to grow the microbes in oil contamination in water bodies labs and use them. However, the Poisoning of young through mother’s milk. and oceans is more than what has cost-effectiveness, availability and been revealed over the years.
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