ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF OIL SPILL

The harmful effects of oil spill depend on the magnitude of the spill and its
location.
Land-

Volatilization (Volatilization is the process whereby a dissolved sample is vaporised. )

is accentuated on land surfaces and in shallow subsurface depths, because spilled oil must be
in contact with air in order for the volatilization to occur. Once evaporated, the volatile
gaseous compounds usually travel upward through soil pores and, depending on the
concentration, may reach the surface and accumulate in any existing structure (e.g., homes).
the persistence of many individual oil components makes them accumulate in the
environment and living organisms.

To animals-
Direct contact with oil spill pollution which, as in the case of humans, may enter animal
bodies through ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption and/or injection (through cuts in the
skin, for example). Potential deterioration of thermal insulation and damage to behavior and
reproductive system are some specific examples of negative effects due to oil spill pollution
exposure;

Indirect exposure through consumption of smaller organisms which were exposed to oil spill
pollution themselves;

Lack of usual food - when mass mortality events occur, affecting large amounts of fish and
exposed marine life (for example, in the case of a severe marine oil spill). This may have
serious long-term ecological effects, ending up with the complete eradication of some species

Water bodies –
The negative effects on marine life relate to the accumulation of persistent and
bioaccumulative components (are a class ofcompounds that have high resistance to
degradation from abiotic and biotic factors, high mobility in the environment and high
toxicity.)of oil in the tissue and bodies of marine life (fish) with the potential to induce a
variety of health and reproductive problems, as well as mass mortality events within
marine life in general.

The unavailability of food is another issue when mass mortality events occur.The problem is
exacerbated for the higher organisms on the food chain (which consume other smaller
organisms) and may seriously affect birds and marine mammals, as well as bigger fish. This is
due to the gradual and additive accumulation of increased concentrations of oil pollutants
through combined exposure to a polluted environment (i.e. polluted water) and polluted
food (with higher pollutant concentrations than in ambient environment).

Apart from direct contact and accumulation of oil spill pollutants, oxygen depletion may also
occur due to the formation of oil slicks at the surface of the water. This may especially affect
species of fish and marine life living in shallower waters