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Oil spill-Hazards & Clean-ups

Special Edited Article on World Environment Day, June 5, 2010

The Gulf Oil Spill:

On April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon oil well situated in Gulf of Mexico exploded. The explosion killed 11 workers. It has released 112.7 million gallons of crude oil till June 4 according to BP worst case estimate which is the largest in US history. The worst case till date is also of the Gulf of Mexico. Ixtoc I, a two-mile deep exploratory well. It had leaked 140 million gallons of crude oil until it was capped in March 1980. BP have failed attempt to stop oil discharge through methods of trial and errors like Blowout Preventer, Underwater Robots, Containment Dome, Top Hat, Top Kill. They are making two reliefs well which will be ready by August to caulk the oil flow. Oil Demand and its addiction have grown so much that we cannot blame anyone.

The Hazards:

Though oil spills are not grave as human tragedy of the magnitude of the methyl isocyanate leak at Bhopal or of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster but oil spills such as in Prince William Sound Alaska, soaked and killed plants and animals over 2000 miles of the shoreline and 500 miles away. Some 30,000 dead birds of 90 species were retrieved within the first for month of the spill. The Prince William sound is in cold area where reproductions rates of animals and plants are slow that is it is an ecologically sensitive area. This time it is in Mississippi River Delta region which has also diverse animal and plant kingdoms. Over the time period when analysis is made we will find out that this type of crisis is never seen before.

The oil penetrates up the structure of the plumage of birds, reducing its insulating ability, and so making the birds more vulnerable to temperature fluctuations and much less buoyant in the water. It also impairs birds' flight abilities to forage and escape from predators. As they attempt to preen, birds typically ingest oil that covers their feathers, causing kidney damage, altered liver function, and digestive tract irritation. This and the limited foraging ability quickly cause dehydration and metabolic imbalances. Several areas that are important to bird populations could be potentially affected. According to the National Audubon Society, places it has designated as "Important Bird Areas" or IBAs that could be threatened by the slick include, Chandeleur Islands IBA and Gulf Islands National Seashore IBA in Louisiana and Mississippi; also in Louisiana, the Delta National Wildlife Refuge and Pass-a-Loutre Wildlife Management Area. Species at risk include, Louisiana's state bird, the brown pelican, which was only removed from the U.S. Endangered Species Act last year. They nest on barrier islands and feed near shore. Their breeding season has just started. Other species that would not fare well, especially if the slick comes ashore; include the American oystercatcher and Wilson's plover.

Marine mammals exposed to oil spills are affected in similar ways as seabirds. Oil coats the fur of Sea otters and seals, reducing its insulation abilities and leading to body temperature fluctuations and hypothermia. Ingestion of the oil causes dehydration and impaired digestions. Oil is less buoyant than water hence suffused over the surface of water. Hence impedes in penetration of sunlight thus will kill many of the organisms at the bottom of the food chain (plankton, crustaceans, small fish), leaving little food for the creatures above them in the food chain. Several species of sea turtles are currently moving through the Gulf, as their spring nesting seasons commences and they need to surface to breathe, so the slick at the water's top could damage their populations.


The Gulf Menhaden fishery, America's third largest fishery will suffer due to this spill. Menhaden are filter feeders and so they could be badly affected by the spill, as they pass tainted water through their filtering system. The northern Gulf of Mexico is a crucial spawning ground at this time of the year for the Atlantic population of Bluefin tuna, which is critically endangered. Their eggs float near the surface and the larvae also stay near there after they first hatch. So, the spill has occurred at a critical time in their life-cycle. "We expect a spill like this could dramatically decrease the amount of bluefin tuna larvae that are surviving," said John Hocevar, the Oceans Campaign director for Greenpeace USA. - Losses could also be inflicted on the shrimp and oyster industries in Louisiana. Oysters are filter feeders and cannot swim to escape the slick. The prime oyster-gathering season in Louisiana starts on May 1.

Tourism industry is going to be affected too. Depending upon where the slick pervades a number of beaches famous for tourism like that of Florida can be adversely affected. Thousands of business related to tourism will be affected severely. Fishing is going too closed for long time.

Clean-ups:

Right now BP and American Government are focusing on caulking the leak which may go till August. From August when clean-ups starts it will be really a mountainous task. Few techniques which is used to clean-up oil spills are-

Natural processes such as evaporation, oxidation, and biodegradation can start the cleanup process.

Alberto Velando and colleagues note that researchers have known for years that large oil spills can increase levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in marine environments. Thus by monitoring the blood of seagulls we can determine the level of pollution.

Detergents containing Polychlorinated biphenyls are suffused over the surface. Polychlorinated biphenyls are heavy and have high affinity to attach with crude oil. The density of the combination increases and settles down at bottom. But these are more toxic to "rainforest of the sea"-coral reefs.

Bioremediation methods use of microorganisms or biological agents to break down or remove oil.

Other methods include skimming, solidifying, Booms, Synthetic Sorbent materials.

Further Reading:

1. Know more about BP.
2. Complete coverage of the New York Times times on Oil spill.
3. The Alaska Oil Spill: Its effects and lessons, Jerald Schnoor, Environ. Sci. Technol., 1991, 25 (1), p 14
4. To know about Major Oil Spills  
5. Crude Oil Spills, Environmental Impact of , Stanislav Patin, Encyclopedia of Energy Pages 737-748. 
6. Emergency Management :Oil Spill Response Techniques 
7. Seagull Blood Shows Promise For Monitoring Pollutants From Oil Spills,Science Daily 
8. How do you clean up an oil spill?, How Stuff works   
 

Beckon

On the occasion of auspicious Akshya Tritya today I am launching my new blog. It is challenge to maintain a good blog. I hope with all your help I will be able to make this endeavour a success.

 
Often in life we are confused, this is the time we should talk with ourselves. This may ease your mind and you may come out with more confidence as a human being. Every day we gain experiences and these experiences work as our currency in the future. I am confident about myself and try to passionate about the work and people. Here in this post I will try to answer about the objective of this blog. This is an introduction.

 
How do you see yourself?

 
I am an idealist person who likes to have all things more or less within certain boundaries. I am passionate about my life, my knowledge and my relationships. I try to give full 100 % to whatever I do. I am diligent person who will inspire you to climb up the next level of excellence.


You have two blogs already, what is need for third one?



True, I have two blogs. In the first one I shared my thinking about my life, my stories and my poems. The other one is a photo blog where we (it is a collaborative one) share our observations through photographs. Third one is quite important for me as I want a platform to share about my life as passionate man, my experiences in academia and about my love i.e. chemistry imbibed with nature. Here I shall be sharing of my ideas, my views about my work.



It is diary short of thing. Why will people come to your blog?

 
First of all this blog about sharing experiences then comes gaining knowledge. I will like to share important links which might be useful for all. They can contact with me and we can share our ideas. It will also work like my diary how I am approaching my next step. I can read it later to enjoy. So it is not for others only but it is quite important for me too. UNESCO and IUPAC has declared next year as International Year of Chemistry, it will be my best way to spread the message about the importance of chemistry.

 
You are now going to be registered in your final year of MS, what is your idea about higher education?

 
I have observed that notion about higher education in India mostly in rural area is misleading. They think that as you go up the ladder in our education system life becomes tough and they usually do not go for higher education. Yes, higher education is challenging but it is much easier, in fact if you want to pass only then practically you have to attend the classes. I do not know why the people are so much apprehensive. It might be that the notion spread by the educated class is rumouring short off. Purpose of higher education is to open your mind and prepare you tackle new challenges.

 
Chemistry is treated as Subject where you muse only. Most of People do not like Chemistry as subject. Why do you choose chemistry?

 
Often people think chemistry means only memorization. They practically hated it in higher secondary. My point view is that true chemistry is innate. If you have it then you will love it. Adding up to that take for example any subject. You cannot move to the next one before you remember the earlier steps. They have to muse also. Just like that chemistry is not all memorization; you have to understand step by step.

I love chemistry as an art. I love it as it is based on observation. You have to be a keen observer. I am artist who learns from nature and tries to recreate to for good of society. Learning chemistry has opened my mind and has given me logic to think; though I agree that here you have to take certain things granted. I do not support the pedagogues who will come and give a voluminous amount of notes and will tell you to memorize. Well, if you try this can be done from another view. Take examples of good and experienced professors.



You are in a Research Institute. Next you may pursue research. What do you mean by research?

 
Research does not mean invention. Goal of research is to find something which may improve the on-going process of innovation which is one step away from living. People do research from delta to infinity. Delta research should not be your aim. It does not mean you cannot invent something so this field is depressing to you. You can think of research as that you have basic functions in the space. You have to know these basis functions and then try to build your own basis functions preferably in that space. The space will depend upon your choice. It is not just that you woke up one morning and starting working on your dream. You have to think, rationalize, work on feasibility both on manual and cost basis. As an adage you will find out that most of the inventions have been found by serendipity.


  For me right know research means leaning- learning to observe, learning skills, gaining more and more knowledge.



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