Oil pollution can be slotted into direct causes like spillage during transportation, natural

ground seepage or indirect causes such as the extremely difficult to measure after-effects of oil

usage like increased carbon dioxide levels. How do we qualify or quantify the effect of losing

40% of one coral reef due to 33% of carbon emissions as a result of oil use? While these

numbers are hypothetical, I mean to suggest that the solution is less about measuring the exact

problem. The numbers don’t matter as much as actually making changes, and seeing the results

of thriving conservation initiatives and remediation efforts.

Dyan deNapoli in The Great Penguin Rescue (2010) outlines some of the hazards

experienced after the oil spill of the MV Treasure on June 23rd, 2000 off the coast of Capetown,

South Africa. The surface oil narrowly missed threatening the water supply of a nuclear power

plant (essential for cooling), threatened endangered African Penguin habitat, and caused a

shutdown of the water intake system for the Capetown Aquarium to avoid contamination.

Figure 1. Infographic display of the worlds worst oil spills (Potenza, 2010)

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A large variation in data about exact spill amounts, suggests a variety of estimation

methods, and left me wondering about the validity of data sources, and how corporate power

affects public information. From an ecological and scientific perspective, study of oil spills in

regards to environmental impact must look at facts available beyond the reach of corporate or oil

company funded sources and with reasonable scrutiny.

Causes

Oil pollution represents one of the ways that we can measure human inefficiency in

energy usage. Earth (Luhr, 2003) stipulates that less then 20% of oil pollution in the ocean results

from spillage. The remainder comes from alternate sources ranging from shipping vessels, waste

and runoff, to recreational boating leakages. The solutions for the pollution, as a result are

endless in variety and possibilities, and are widespread with many facets. Regular maintenance

of recreational boating would significantly reduce widespread pollution. Until technology allows

complete removal of oil based motor systems altogether, solid understanding of maintenance is

an area of great opportunity for improvement.

While big oil companies with deep pockets make an easy target for media during

accidents, it is the consumer’s responsibility to put pressure on oil providers to improve methods

through which they manufacture, refine and transport oils.

Ecological Effects

National Geographic travel journalist Andrew Evans was on assignment in a very remote

island in the south Atlantic a week after an oil spill occurred in 2011. His presence raised public

awareness around oil related ecological impacts, but he also encouraged individuals to assist with

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more local reporting campaigns (Evans, 2012). Northern Rockhopper Penguins, native to the

island and already endangered were seriously affected by the oil.

Figure 2. Endangered Rockhopper Penguins affected by oil spill (Glass, 2011)

A detailed environmental site assessment on the Ogoniland Region of Nigeria (United

Nations Environment Program, 2011) proposes many environmental management opportunities

for locals. Shell Corporation operates oil production facilities in the region. The cumulative

decades of oil processing have left community water wells contaminated with carcinogens, and

resulted in serious degradation of the entire ecological system, with particular stress on the

mangrove vegetation. Additional issues include oil theft, infrastructure problems, poverty, and

corruption. All necessitate delicacy in the ways environmental sustainability practices are

implemented. Locals are rightly concerned about the consumption of fish affected by pollution.

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Figure 3. Ecosystem cross section showing impact of Deepwater Horizon spill (NOAA Gulf Spill

Restoration, 2013)

Controls

Environment Canada describes on their website how oil spills in Canadian territory issue

a prompt response of appropriate environmental authorities within hours of an event (Slick

Science: The Science of Oil Spills and Effects on Water Quality, 2013). Forecasters predict the

movement of the oil in order to approach containment and minimize environmental impact. A

more preventative measure is undertaken by the David Suzuki organization website in the St.

Lawrence, Our Living River page (2013). Political action is encouraged by “email petitioning”

several government contacts through a pre-arranged and organized format in opposition to a

proposed drill site in the Maritimes water. Video clips of computer generated projection models

show potential environmental disaster zones if oil drilling caused spillage.

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After the MV Treasure spill, one of the controls against surface oil threatening the

Robben Island habitat of the endangered African Penguin was use of SpillSorb. This natural peat

moss product absorbs oil as it remains on the surface, and contains humic acid which naturally

breaks down oils hydrocarbons after cleanup operations are complete (DeNapoli, 2011).

Figure 4. Cleanup crews and boom for the Cosco busan oil spill in California (Cilley, 2013)

Controls used in spill management include boom usage, and dispersant application

(National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, 2013). Dispersants chemically break down oil

for its integration back into the natural environment, and boom is particularly effective at re-

directing surface oil from ecologically sensitive habitats, however is high maintenance and

requires attention and care when in use. Hard boom floats directly above and below the surface

water level to redirect or protect sensitive environments from surface oil. Other types such as

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snare boom perform functions like absorbing small tar balls and bits of oil brought in by waves.

Fire resistant boom is used where flame and heat tolerance are necessary.

The Baltic Sea region had 30 ships capable of responding to oil accidents as of 2006

(Helsinki Commission, 2006) and engaged in organized scenarios simulating real life accidents

in preparation for the real thing. A white porous material called perlite was used to simulate oil

on the water surface during a 2006 simulation. Perlite is derived from volcanic rock, easily

visible on the water during a drill, and harmless to the environment.

Aside from prevention or eliminating dangerous drilling altogether, fast containment is a

marine ecosystem’s best chance at low impact from spillage. In the case of Shell Corporation’s

oil facility in Nigeria, the ship has sailed on early containment and control, and the region is

starting with 1 billion dollars projected cleanup costs, and 30 years of work (Vidal, 2011). Shell

Petroleum Development Company accepted responsibility for the 9 million dollar environmental

study, however the remainder of the cleanup will need corporate, community and government

collaboration (UNEP, 2011).

Increasing sustainable and renewable energy sources in place of un-renewable polluting

sources seems a logical focus of energy rather then putting out “the fires” of environmental

remediation costs. Society must engage in effective ways of protecting sensitive ecological

situations like endangered penguin’s habitat, and model successful projects for others to follow.

As much as we learn, there will always be more work to be done. Doing that work with a clear

idea of goals and desired outcome makes for a great focus moving forward into the future of oil

spill management and oil pollution prevention.

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References

Cilley, J. (November, 2007). US Coast Guard/Marine Photobank. [photograph]. Retrieved

April 28, 2013, from www.marinephotobank.org

DeNapoli, D. (2010). The Great Penguin Rescue. (1st edition). New York, NY Free Press

Evans, A. (2012, March). National Geographic Live! Tristan da Cunha Oil Spill. [video file].

Retrieved April 28, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYyuTHW3-a4

Farndon, J. (2011). Atlas of Oceans (1st edition). New Haven, CT. Yale University Press

Glass, T. (2011). Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Website. [photograph]. Retrieved

April 29, 2013, from http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/275086-uk-penguins-in-peril-as-

grounded-ship-threatens-twin-environmental-disaster

Helsinki Commission. (2006). Activities 2006 Overview. Retrieved April 29, 2013, from

http://www.helcom.fi/stc/files/Publications/Proceedings/bsep112.pdf

Luhr, J. (2003). Earth. (1st edition). New York, NY. DK Publishing Inc

National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. (2013). NOAA’s Oil Spill Response.

Retrieved April 27, 2013, from http://www.education.noaa.gov/Special_Topics/

Hands_On_Activities/Oil_Spill_Responders/NOAA_Oil_Spill_Fact_Sheets.pdf

NOAA Gulf Spill Restoration. (2013). Gulf Spill Restoration Section of National Ocean and

Atmospheric Administration. [photograph]. Retrieved April 29, 2013, from http://

www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2011/09/visualizing-the-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill/

Potenza, G. (2010). Blue Ion Blog. [illustration]. Retrieved April 27, 2013, from http://

blog.blueion.com/2010/05/15/oil-spill-infographic/

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Slick Science: The Science of Oil Spills and Effects on Water Quality. (2013). Environment

Canada Website. Retrieved April 28, 2013, from http://www.ec.gc.ca/envirozine/

default.asp?lang=En&n=F8A83A04-1

The St Lawrence: Our living river. (2013) David Suzuki Organization. Retrieved April 28,

2013, from http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/oceans/projects/saint-lawrence/

United Nations Environment Program. (2011). Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland.

Retrieved April 27, 2013, from http://postconflict.unep.ch/publications/OEA/

UNEP_OEA.pdf

Vidal, J. (2011, August). Niger delta oil spills clean-up will take 30 years, says UN. Retrieved

April 29, 2013, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/aug/04/niger-delta-

oil-spill-clean-up-un

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