Oil Spills
Questions:
What are the environmental implications of oil spills? What legislative policies have been instituted to mitigate the possibility of future oil spills? How are oil spills cleaned up and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each method? What type of research and innovation surrounding oil spills has been done to prevent their occurrence?
In order to foster an environment for emerging technologies and higher standards of living, the United States, Canada and many other nations have increased their dependence on products derived from petroleum. Manifestations of our dependence on oil include fuel for automobiles and houses, as well as its usage for the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and plastics. (EPA, 2012). Since the demand for oil is high, it needs to be distributed in large volumes increasing the propensity for spillage. An oil spill occurs when petroleum is inadvertently expelled into the environment. Oil spills principally occur two ways; spillage into an aquatic environment, or on land (Think Quest, 2002). Recent oil spills which have caused unprecedented damage have augmented society’s concern for the implications oil spills have on the environment and surrounding ecosystems. Oil spills are relevant to our study of environmental economics since it incorporates a lot of the course material including water pollution, toxic wastes, waste disposal, liability laws and incentives for innovation. This essay will address the environmental concerns around oil spills by answering questions surrounding the implications of oil spills, recent legislative policies implemented to prevent oil spills, how oil spills are cleaned up and recent research and innovation that has helped to decrease the likelihood of an oil spill.
Environmental Implications:
When oil is leaked, it adversely alters aquatic environments by physically harming mammals and damaging their habitat. Oil is a compound derived from hydrogen and carbon, however, the process in which
What are the environmental implications of oil spills? What legislative policies have been instituted to mitigate the possibility of future oil spills? How are oil spills cleaned up and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each method? What type of research and innovation surrounding oil spills has been done to prevent their occurrence?
In order to foster an environment for emerging technologies and higher standards of living, the United States, Canada and many other nations have increased their dependence on products derived from petroleum. Manifestations of our dependence on oil include fuel for automobiles and houses, as well as its usage for the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and plastics. (EPA, 2012). Since the demand for oil is high, it needs to be distributed in large volumes increasing the propensity for spillage. An oil spill occurs when petroleum is inadvertently expelled into the environment. Oil spills principally occur two ways; spillage into an aquatic environment, or on land (Think Quest, 2002). Recent oil spills which have caused unprecedented damage have augmented society’s concern for the implications oil spills have on the environment and surrounding ecosystems. Oil spills are relevant to our study of environmental economics since it incorporates a lot of the course material including water pollution, toxic wastes, waste disposal, liability laws and incentives for innovation. This essay will address the environmental concerns around oil spills by answering questions surrounding the implications of oil spills, recent legislative policies implemented to prevent oil spills, how oil spills are cleaned up and recent research and innovation that has helped to decrease the likelihood of an oil spill.
Environmental Implications:
When oil is leaked, it adversely alters aquatic environments by physically harming mammals and damaging their habitat. Oil is a compound derived from hydrogen and carbon, however, the process in which
References: Anderson, D. (2008, June 25). The Environmental Literacy Council - Oil Spills. The Environmental Literacy Council. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/540.html Division of Spill Prevention and Response. (n.d.). DEC Home. Retrieved November 9, 2012, from http://dec.alaska.gov/spar/prevention.htm EVOS: The Cleanup: Methods. (n.d.). ThinkQuest : Library. Retrieved November 30, 2012, from http://library.thinkquest.org/10867/cleanup/methods/index.shtml Environment Canada - Publications - The Science of Oil Spills and Effects on Water Quality. (2011, March 15). Environnement Canada - Environment Canada. Retrieved November 1, 2012, from http://www.ec.gc.ca/envirozine/default.asp?lang=En&n=F8A83A04-1 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA. (n.d.). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from www.shmsa.gov.cn/UserFiles/File/SOLAS_consolidated_edition2004.pdf ITOPF - Spill Response - Alternative Techniques. (n.d.). ITOPF - Home. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www.itopf.com/spill-response/clean-up-and-response/alternative-techniques/ Response Techniques | Emergency Management | US EPA. (2011, January 27). US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from http://www.epa.gov/osweroe1/content/learning/oiltech.htm Schrope, M. (2011, September 1). Oil-spill research funds begin to flow : Nature News. Nature Publishing Group : science journals, jobs, and information. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110901/full/news.2011.516.html