Solutions
9
Water-Oil Separation: Vessels, called skimmers, move across the top of the water and take off the oil resting on top.
Controlled Burn: While it might be quick, the thick, black smoke given off can be extremely harmful to the environment as well as humans, releasing toxins into the air.
Chemical Dispersants: Chemicals can break up the oil into smaller particles and it can disperse, but this can actually be worse for the environment because then the smaller particles spread out and can be inhaled by fish and other marine wildlife.
(Van Prooyen, 2010)
http://cdn.lightgalleries.net/4bd5ebfe8d0eb/images/OilSlickWeb_0016-1.jpg
http://www.oilspillsolutions.org/Burn%20emulsion.jpg
[R. Greenwood]