What Are The Effects Of Chemical Dispersants On Marine Life And The Environment?



The effect of using chemical dispersants on the surface is well understood. By eliminating oil from the water surface, birds, marine mammals, turtles, and coasts are protected. But the case is different when its effects get much deeper underwater.

Dispersants are chemicals that help in breaking down oil slicks into smaller droplets. They have surface-active agents called surfactants. Similar to the effect of soap on greasy dishes, chemical dispersants are used to remove oil from water surfaces and into the water columns by improving the natural chemical and physical breakdown of oil. This prevents the slicks from reaching the shore or coating surface animals. When the dispersants are in the water column, oil is diluted and the toxicity level is reduced. These oil droplets become food sources for bacteria in the ocean.

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Learn about Oil Eating Microbes



Video explaining how oil eating microbes can clean gulf oil spill

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How an Oil Spill Affects the Ecosystem



You may have seen dramatic pictures and footage of birds and sea animals covered in black oil. These poor creatures have been affected by oil spills. There is a lot more than that on what an oil spill can bring. When there is an oil spill, the oil can go anywhere because of the tides and wind that leads to harmful effects to the ecosystem.

Oil spill happens when there is an accidental release of petroleum into the environment. It can be eliminated easily when it strikes on land. But on water, it appears to be the opposite that it can result to oil pollution over the wide areas and can give serious danger to the ecosystem.

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Fungi That Eats Oil Spills



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Environmental Impact of Natural Disasters



It has been months since that very unfortunate day Haiti was shaken by a magnitude 7 earthquake. Up to this day, relief efforts are still seen and heard on news and help from the world over keeps on pouring in. Aside from that, volunteers are working round the clock to restore civil order in Haiti as locals are worried about what’s in store for them in the future now that their country has crumbled to the forces of mother nature.

The impending environmental impact of such natural disasters can be felt instantly while others just lie in wait until it blows up into yet another catastrophic tragedy. One of the most expected environmental effects when a natural disaster strikes is water-borne illnesses as chemicals are to be anticipated to pollute clean waters, not to mention oil spills which fortunately was not detected in the streets of Haiti.

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