How did the Gulf of Mexico oil spill affect humans?
The long-term effects of the BP oil spill on exposed cleanup workers produced an increased prevalence of illness symptoms such as shortness of breath, headaches, skin rash, chronic cough, weakness, dizzy spells, painful joints, and chest pain 7 years after their exposure to the oil spill.
What are the effects of oil spills on humans?
Studies of biomarkers have uncovered irreparable harm to humans exposed to oil and gas from spills. These effects can be grouped into respiratory damage, liver damage, decreased immunity, increased cancer risk, reproductive damage and higher levels of some toxics (hydrocarbons and heavy metals).
What are the long-term effects of the Gulf oil spill?
A similar study found that citizens on the Gulf Coast had increased levels of anxiety, depression, and respiratory issues that lasted for several years after the catastrophe. Other coastal residents had similar symptoms including skin rashes, muscle cramps, pneumonia, migraines, and much more.
What were the effects of the oil spill?
Oil spills have a number of effects on the environment and economy. On a basic level, oil spill effects will damage waterways, marine life and plants and animals on the land. The impact of oil spills can also ruin the infrastructure and economy of a particular area with the long-term effects being felt for decades.
What are the short term effects of oil spills?
Oil spills have both short-term effects that include mortality as well as long-term effects that affect the animal’s ability to survive and reproduce. Oil drop in water column from WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument.
What is the effect of oil spill in the environment?
Oil spill effects on environments and habitats can be catastrophic: they can kill plants and animals, disturb salinity/pH levels, pollute air/water and more.
What are the short term effects of an oil spill?
How do oil spills affect humans and animals?
Oil spills are harmful to marine birds and mammals as well as fish and shellfish. Without the ability to repel water and insulate from the cold water, birds and mammals will die from hypothermia. Juvenile sea turtles can also become trapped in oil and mistake it for food.
How much damage did the Gulf of Mexico oil spill cause?
BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused $17.2 billion in environmental damage to the Gulf of Mexico. The Deepwater Horizon disaster is considered the largest marine oil spill in United States history.
What impact did the Gulf of Mexico oil spill have on the environment?
The scientists concluded that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill killed thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles, and contaminated their habitats.
What are the effects of oil spills on the environment?
Oil spill effects on environments and habitats can be catastrophic: they can kill plants and animals, disturb salinity/pH levels, pollute air/water and more. Read more about the types of oil pollution.
What are the effects of oil spill in the environment?
Where was the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?
Oil in marsh vegetation during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill. (NOAA) Nov. 23, 2016 _ The 2010 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon Macondo oil well drilling platform triggered a massive oil release polluting over 1,300 miles of shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico.
How much oil was released in the Gulf of Mexico?
The explosion started a chain of events resulting in the release of approximately 4.9 million barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. The discharge of oil continued for 111 days, impacting the marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as local communities.
What was the response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?
Responding to stranded or debilitated marine wildlife, especially to those that may have been exposed to oil, was a high priority during the days and months immediately following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
How much oil did the Exxon Valdez spill?
In comparison, the Exxon Valdez tanker spilled approximately 257,000 barrels (11 million gallons) of crude oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska, in 1989.