Oil Spills

Oil Spills

1. Atlas, Ronald M. and Hazen, Terry C. Oil Biodegradation and Bioremediation: A Tale of the Two Worst Spills in U.S History. United States: American Chemical Society, 2011.

In this article, Atlas and Hazen discuss the two worst oil spills in the history of the U.S. These are the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. They explain the devastating environmental effects that the Exxon Valdez oil spill made and that the media made a constant comparison of this spill with the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010. The book captures how the marine organisms were impacted adversely by the oil spills, but the microorganisms managed to consume petroleum hydrocarbons.[1] Atlas and Hazen attest that the indigenous microorganisms played an important role in minimizing the general environmental impact of both the BP Deepwater Horizon spills and the Exxon Valdez oil spills.

The authors use data gained from pictures taken on the oil spills in BP Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez, organizations’ publications, and secondary sources (books) that have documented the two major oil spills in the U.S. and their impact on the environment. The aim of the paper was to provide lessons to the public in regard to the role that microbial biodegradation has in the fate of the oil that is spilled. They also wanted to determine whether biodegradation can be applied today should there be an oil spill.[2]

Furthermore, the book is focused on what happened in the two largest oil spills in the history of the U.S., that is, BP Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez. It was found that enhanced and natural biodegradation significantly reduced the oil concentrations following both the BP Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez oil spills and that the unseen microbe was highly responsible for the elimination of the spilled oil in the environment.[3] In that case, the authors inform future oil spill responders that they would do well mobilizing a scientific comprehension of the outstanding conditions of the oil spill, that is, determining the enhanced and natural biodegradation and decide on the best strategy to reduce the impact and risk of oil spill into the environment. Therefore, the target audience for this article is future oil spill responders.

This article will form an important basis for my research by providing information on the history of oil spills in the U.S., especially in the two big oil spills that happened.

2. Farrington, John W. “Oil pollution in the marine environment II: fates and effects of oil spills.” Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development 56, no. 4 (2014): 16-31.

In this article, Farrington discusses the effects of oil spills on the marine environment. For instance, he acknowledges the fact that oil spills that are dispersed on the coast make a total mess at the beaches, boats and coat ships in marinas and harbors, mariculture facilities, foul fishing nets, desalinization pipes, and water intake pipes used for mariculture facilities and fish hatcheries.[4] The authors use online magazines, environment magazines, and other secondary sources of data like books and articles to collect data. He aims to use this data for the purpose of private study, teaching, and research. His focus is on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the U.S. and the biological and chemical processes that happen when oil spills in water.

This article will be useful in my research as it will inform on the effects of oil spills on marine life and also examine the biological and chemical processes as well as other factors that contribute to the effects of the spilled oil on the marine environment. The source will provide information on how these factors play an important role in causing various impacts on marine life. The article will also be informative in giving information on other places where oil spills have occurred, such as the Barge Florida Oil spill and the Galeta oil spill in 1986, among others.[5] Moreover, recommendations on how to mitigate oil spills will be made.

In summary, the author indicates the effect of oil spills on the marine ecosystem and also provides the history of other oil spills in the U.S. and elsewhere and how these spills have affected marine life. It will, therefore, be instrumental in this research study. Besides, research professionals and educators can employ this information to further studies.

3. Jernelöv, Arne. “The threats from oil spills: now, then, and in the future.” Ambio 39, no. 5 (2010): 353-366.

In this article, Jernelöv explains the chemical reaction of oil and water after spillages. She also makes a comparison between the giant oil spills of the Mexican Gulf and Deepwater Horizon. She further examines the cause of oil spills, making references to spills in the northwestern Amazon, Niger Delta, Arctic Russia, and the well of Macondo. She refers to the statistics of oil spills all over the world from 1979 to 2009.[6] She has also keenly referred to the case of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The purpose of this paper is to derive lessons from two major blowouts of oil spills with regard to the technical aspects as well as the characteristics of the oil.[7] She attests that this is necessary in the modern world because of the similar effects of oil on the environment. She also wants her audience to understand how oil affects marine animals and plants.[8]

Her scope entails oil spill cases from 1979 to 2009, especially the two giant blowouts that had detrimental effects on the environment.

In responding to the question of the effects of oil spills on the marine environment, this article will come in handy in explaining, for instance, the impact of oil spills on birds and planktonic organisms. It is also noted that oil poisons algae grazers such as snails, and while this happens, the green algae are given an opportunity to grow profusely, increasing their thickness and width in the sea. As a result, many other organisms, such as mussels with larvae of plankton, find it hard to re-settle in the water because the algae have occupied a big space.[9] This is a spill-over effect that many researchers hardly address. Therefore, this makes the source rich in information.

Furthermore, the author of the article led a UN assessment and advisory team at the accident of Ixtoc and also exhibited similar roles at numerous tanker accidents during the 1980s and 1970s and in 1991 after the Gulf War, where millions of tons of oil spilled into the sea.[10] This makes her a more experienced and reliable source.

In summary, her article will help my research by highlighting the immediate and long-term effects of oil on marine animals and plants.

4. Kvenvolden, K. A., and C. K. Cooper. “Natural seepage of crude oil into the marine environment.” Geo-marine letters 23, no. 3 (2003): 140-146.

Kvenvolden and Cooper focus on the seepage of crude oil into the marine environment while acknowledging the fact that human activities also play a crucial role in the seepage of oil into the environment. [11] The primary purpose of this article is to educate on the various seepages into the water and the past seepages, as well as the ongoing seepages.

Although this article will not be of much use in my research, it will be instrumental in understanding how spills happen, the characteristics of oil, and how it affects the gravity of spillage.

The authors have used numerous books and journal articles to collect data. In addition to that, Kvenvolden works in a Geological Survey in the U.S., whereas Cooper works in a Chevron Petroleum Technology Company in California, which gives them primary knowledge and understanding of oil seepages into the water resources.

5. Larramendy, Marcelo, and Sonia Soloneski, eds. Emerging Pollutants in the Environment: Current and Further Implications. Croatia: BoD–Books on Demand, 2015.

Among many issues they address, Larramendy and Sonia discuss the impact of oil spills on marine life as well as the current pollutants in the environment and their further implications. The aim of this book is to examine pollutants all over the world. And in this case, an oil spill is not an exception.

The two authors have experience in the School of Natural Sciences and Museum. They have covered the works of other authors, books, journals, and historical records on the pollutants of the environment. In this book, significant researchers who have covered topics on emerging pollutants toxicology have been featured. This covers the harmful impacts of most known emerging xenobiotics used in daily anthropogenic activities.

The book’s audience is general and is aimed at meeting the needs and expectations of people who are interested in the negative effects of emerging pollutants on living species.

This book will be useful in my research because it covers the effects of oil on the natural environment. For instance, the authors state that it depends on the nature of the oil and how the oil reacts chemically and physically. If the oil is dispersed by the wind or water currents, organisms like larvae, plankton, and fish are immediately susceptible to toxicity. However, if the oil is not dispersed, it remains on the surface, and the water currents bring it toward the coastal regions, which ultimately harms the coastal organisms such as mammals, birds, and invertebrates.[12] This means that there is a greater understanding of how these effects come about rather than assuming that the oil would stay on the water and cause damage to fish for as long as it is spilled.

Given that Books on Demand published the book, it shows that the content of the book is rich and covers multiple researchers’ works.

6. Mansir, Nasar, and Martin Jones. “Environmental impacts of marine oil spill; a case study of Deepwater Horizon oil spill at the Gulf of Mexico United States of America 2010 (a review).” ChemSearch Journal 3, no. 2 (2012): 64-70.

Nasar and Jones have focused on addressing the effect of oil spills on the environment in reference to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that happened in the Gulf of Mexico.[13] It also addresses other oil spills that happened before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and how they affected the surrounding environment and marine organisms.

The authors have used photos of the episode of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and explosion as well as pictures of the affected birds, such as brown pelicans. [14] Other sources of data used by the authors include mapping from research institutes, journal articles, and books by other authors on the environmental impact of oil spills.

Their research journal will be important in my research because it covers the effect that oil spill has on marine organisms as well as the surrounding environment.

The limitation that the article exhibits is using pictures from an unreliable source, Wikipedia.

7. Murawski, S. et al., Deep Oil Spills: Facts, Fate, and Effects. Gewerbestrasse: Springer, 2020.

The editors of this book, Murawski, Ainsworth, Gilbert, Hollander, Paris, Schluter, and Wetzel, have discussed several topics on deep oil spills from other researchers. In this book, lessons are learned from past oil spills, such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The editors acknowledge the fact that past oil spills have shaped the way the problem is perceived in the current world. The whole book explores the chemistry, physics, and sub-surface deposition of oil and the environmental effects of deep oil spills.

Although the book is rich in this information, it leaves room for additional research to be done appropriately for its audience: industry decision-makers, government regulators, students, researchers, politicians, and first responders.

The editors are professionals in various schools of marine science, making their work well-informed and diverse. Despite the fact that the book covers a series of topics on deep oil spills, the part on the impacts of deep spills on protected resources, fish, and plankton would be helpful for my research, especially in highlighting practical examples from the case studies provided in the book.[15] Besides, the book was dated in 2020, and therefore, it is up to date and covers many lessons from diverse oil spillages. Moreover, the audience can take note of the recommendations suggested by the editors on how to mitigate oil spills in the future and how to prepare for them.

Bibliography

Atlas, Ronald M. and Hazen, Terry C. Oil Biodegradation and Bioremediation: A Tale of the Two Worst Spills in U.S History. United States: American Chemical Society, 2011.

Farrington, John W. “Oil pollution in the marine environment II: fates and effects of oil spills.” Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development 56, no. 4 (2014): 16-31.

Jernelöv, Arne. “The threats from oil spills: now, then, and in the future.” Ambio 39, no. 5 (2010): 353-366.

Kvenvolden, K. A., and C. K. Cooper. “Natural seepage of crude oil into the marine environment.” Geo-marine letters 23, no. 3 (2003): 140-146.

Larramendy, Marcelo, and Sonia Soloneski, eds. Emerging Pollutants in the Environment: Current and Further Implications. Croatia: BoD–Books on Demand, 2015.

Mansir, Nasar, and Martin Jones. “Environmental impacts of marine oil spill; a case study of Deepwater Horizon oil spill at the Gulf of Mexico United States of America 2010 (a review).” ChemSearch Journal 3, no. 2 (2012): 64-70.

Murawski, S. et al., Deep Oil Spills: Facts, Fate, and Effects. Gewerbestrasse: Springer, 2020

[1] Ronald Atlas and Terry Hazen, Oil Biodegradation and Bioremediation: A Tale of the Two Worst Spills in U.S History. (United States: American Chemical Society, 2011), p. 6709

[2] Ronald Atlas and Terry Hazen 2011, p.6709.

[3] Ronald Atlas and Terry Hazen 2011, p.6714.

[4] John Farrington, Oil Pollution in the Marine Environment II: Fates and Effects of Oil Spills (London: Routledge, 2014), p.22.

[5] John Farrington 2014, p.26.

[6] Arne Jernelöv, “The Threats from Oil Spills: Now, Then, and in the Future,” Ambio, 39(5) (2010), p.355-356.

[7] Arne Jernelöv 2010, p.354.

[8] Arne Jernelöv 2010, p.358.

[9] Arne Jernelöv 2010, p.359

[10] Arne Jernelöv 2010, p.366.

[11] Kvenvolden, K. A., and C. K. Cooper. “Natural seepage of crude oil into the marine environment.” Geo-marine letters 23, no. 3 (2003): 140.

[12] Marcelo Larramendy and Sonia Soloneski 2015, p.84.

[13] Nasar Mansir and Martin Jones, “Environmental Impacts of Marine Oil Spill; A Case Study of Deep Water Horizon Spill at the Gulf of Mexico United State of America 2010 (A Review),” Chemsearch Journal 3(2) (2010): p. 64

[14] Nasar Mansir and Martin Jones 2012, p.65-66

[15] Steven Murawski et al 2020, p.344.

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The history of oil spills and there effect on marine environment

The paper should be at least 6 pages (no more than 12). It must contain at least 7 academically approved sources, of which 3 must be books. Students are to use Turabian/Chicago Manual of Style to write/cite their paper. Papers should be typed, double space, 11 point font.