the fur of marine mammals. If these oils stay on the animal's fur, feathers, or skin it will prevent the animal from maintaining homeostasis; is the ability or tendency to maintain internal stability in an organism to compensate for environmental changes, killing the animal because of hypothermia (Biology Online). Crude oil does not evaporate easily so that means it will stay in the environment longer (Thompson). People often use the natural method and the absorbent method when trying to clean the shorelines.
Let’s Clean Up
There are several methods that are used to clean up the oil spills. One method is called the natural method. In this method people use the natural process of evaporation, oxidization, and biodegradation to start the process of cleaning, but the process occurs very slowly. Microbes are an example of this type of method. Another way the natural method can be used is wiping with sorbent material, pressure washing, and raking and bulldozing. Chemical agents are another method. It uses fertilizer to disperse the oil from the water. This method is highly recommended to use for oil spills. The fertilizer helps stop the growth of microorganisms. This helps to stop the components of the oil split in the water. The third method uses absorbents. An example of the absorbent method is using sorbents and using oil booms. Sorbents is when sponges that are placed in the oil. They are used to soak up the oil on top of the water to clean it up. There many more methods that are used to clean oil spills for example burning in situ but scientists are still looking for better ways to clean oil spills (Ten Methods for Oil Spills Cleanup at Sea).
52 Different Ways to Kill:
Disperants used in the Gulf hurting more than the oil itself
By: Tomi Okiji
What about BP?
About 3 years ago on August 5 2010, BP a gas and oil company spilled some of its oil in the Gulf Of Mexico which spanned over 200 miles. Obviously, this did not have the most positive effect on the life in these waters nor on the residents and wildlife living near the Gulf of Mexico. As a result of this horrid incident, BP was ordered to clean up the oil in the ocean, though not all of this cleaning was viewed as ethical, especially the use of what is known as dispersants.
What is a dispersant?
So what exactly is a dispersant?Biological Diversity, a biology website, defines it as “chemicals that are sprayed on a surface oil slick to break down the oil into smaller droplets that more readily mix with the water” (“Gulf Disaster”). This method does not get rid of the problem, rather it makes it harder for the oil to come into contact with land animals.It’s basically an application of the out of sight out of mind concept. Although the use of dispersants makes the oil disappear from the surface there is a great potential that they will expose the oils to marine life.
The effects of dispersants
There are no definitive assertions as to how these dispersants affect life, however Corexit 9500A, the dispersant used by BP, has been attributed to some quite severe effects. The toxicity of the petroleum in the Corexit is said to increase when exposed to water thus increasing the peril for fish and causing harm to them(“Gulf Oil Spill”). The oil is also said to increase the amount of fatalities of coral reef because the oil becomes more absorbable for them. There has even been reports that species as small as plankton have been exposed to the dispersants and have died from them which could cause a major effect on the food chain and hurt species as high as whales on the food chain (“Dispersants Make”).
Some of the effects have also been attributed to humans as well. There has been reports from residents who live near the Gulf that there has been “blood in their urine as well as kidney and liver disorders”(“Gulf Disaster”). Many of these reports have been attributed to the water in the Gulf of Mexico. Divers in these waters have even reported to have some of these symptoms as well ,though there has been no direct correlation found between these incidents and the Gulf’s waters. The Huffington Post compares it on to a horror film with the array of reports including “bleeding from the nose, ears, breasts, and even anus” (“Corexit Oil”).This has been very terrifying for some of the residents and those wishing to travel to such parts because of the numerous amount of incidents being reported.
The measures taken
Nalco, the company that is responsible for making Corexit 9500A, is very unwilling to release the ingredients in its dispersant. Nalco apparently has connections to the oil industry and is said to be associated with companies like Exxon and BP(“Gulf Disaster”). Knowing that Nalco is the maker of such products, many have sewed it because Corexit9500A allegedly caused many health injuries and health problems(“BP Oil”). In fact, the products were said to be banned from the United Kingdom in 1998. The Environmental Protection Agency issued that BP use a more effective and environmentally friendly product but did not willingly yield to such wishes although it did slow down its utilization of these products(“Gulf Disaster”).
Lets wait and see .
There is not much known about the Corexit due to the little information given therefore, no statements about the dispersants used by BP can be corroborated as true, but there is still research to be done and more to be found out the about these dispersants in the Gulf. The results were tragic and affected many,even those of different species. There would be no use for dispersant had the oil not been spilled and leaked into the Gulf. One can only hope that such an event does not happen again.
Aerial View of Gulf
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