Understanding Oil Spills
What are oil spills?
Oil spills are accidental releases of oil into the environment.
How can we help organizations prevent oil spills?
Volunteer time with organizations that work to protect the environment and respond to oil spills
Can oil spills contaminate our water?
Yes! If an oil spill occurs, there is a chance that the oil can seep into our water supply.
What is In-situ Burning?
The oil floating on the surface is burned off using fire. This method is much more effective than other methods of oil spill cleanup.
Where can oil spills happen?
They usually occur in the water but can also happen on land.
What can we do to improve the already existing technologies?
Try to come up with our own solutions and test them on a smaller scale
What is one way an oil spill can negatively impact wildlife.
Coating feathers or fur, poisoning, suffocation, hypothermia
What is the Gelatin treatment?
Using powder, the oil is turned into gelatin, and collected later. This process solidifies the oil and separates it from the water.
What are causes of oil spills? (Nature)
Natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes can also cause oil spills
Why is learning about oil spills important?
Learning about and understanding how oil spills happen and what can be done to prevent or clean them up helps us protect our planet and its ecosystems
How long can the economic impacts of a spill last?
They have short and long term impacts.
What are Skimmers?
They are designed to suck up the oil if it cannot be soaked up by sorbents.
What are causes of oil spills? (Humans)
- Accidents
- Failure of equipment (Mostly in factories)
What can we do to educate others?
Make posters, presentations, or videos
How can oil spills positively impact the economy?
Oil spills can create jobs.
What are the two types of sorbents and what do they do?
There are two types of sorbents. absorbance soak up the oil and adsorbents form a layer on the surface to contain it.
What is the largest oil spill in the history of the U.S?
Deepwater Horizon - Gulf of Mexico (America)
What are some examples of health problems caused by oil spills?
- Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath
- Skin and eye irritation
- Increased risk of certain cancers
What can we do on an everyday basis? (Think kitchen)
Use less oil while cooking!
What is one way oil impacts our daily lives (positively)?
Oil is refined into gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. They help us power our electronics and vehicles.
What are Oil Booms?
Oil Booms trap oil and keep it above the surface, ready to be cleaned.