Impact of oil spills on marine life

Oil spills contamination has spread throughout the marine ecosystem as a result of human activity.

- M. Lavanya, M. Ramar*, D. Kesavan, S. Monikandon

 Oil spills are consumed by many kinds of wildlife, including fish and shellfish, as a result of widespread contamination. There is concern about physical and chemical toxicity since oil spills are associated with chemicals used in manufacturing and that sorbs from the environment.

Introduction: Oil is a vital source of energy around the world. It is transported from one location to another by ships at sea and through pipes. The pipes leaked due to various issues and the oil spread throughout the oceans. This is referred to as oil spill. Oil Pollution is a growing environmental issue that threatens both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Oil spills endanger marine birds, mammals, fish and shellfish.

Marine oil spil can have a significant economic impact on coastal activities as well as have an impact on the overall health of the marine environment. According to the statistics 3.2 million tonnes of oil are released into the coastal environment each year from all sources. This type of oil is mixed with water affect the marine organisms in the water, most of the marine organisms take a long time to recover and some do not recover from these effects.

Causes and effects: Ultimately the effect of oil on the properties of water depends on the fat content of the oil. When hydrocarbons are in the marine environment they spread to the surface of the water layer. When waves carry the oil to coastal organisms then it harming to marine organisms such as invertebrates, mammals and birds. Fish, plankton and larvae are straight away subjected to grease toxity.