Transcript OFF - Mount Pearl Intermediate

Negative Human Impact on Earth’s Water
By: Willow Squires
WHAT IS OIL POLLUTION?
 Oil pollution, or an oil spill, is the release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon
(oil) into the environment due to human activity. Although oil spills can also
occur on land, the term ‘oil spill’ is usually applied to marine oil spills, which
is where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters. Oil pollution is also
caused by things like oil from recreational boating, drainage from cities and
farms, and untreated waste from factories and businesses.
WHAT IMPACT DOES OIL
POLLUTION HAVE ON OCEANS?
 Oil pollution does a large
amount of long term and short
term damage to marine
organisms and ecosystems. Oil
pollution harms and kills many
plants and animals in that live in
the water. Oil can get caught in
the feathers of birds, preventing
them from keeping heat in and
can cause hypothermia. Oil can
also cover the gills and body of
fish, which is suffocating, and
can destroy the environment
where fish lay eggs. Oil pollution
affects many organisms that live
in the water.
WHAT IMPACT DOES OIL
POLLUTION HAVE ON PEOPLE?
 Oil pollution can also
harm people. When
winds blow oily sea water
into the air as sea spray,
the spray contains tiny
droplets of oil, which can
then be inhaled into the
lungs. This can cause
people to become sick.
HOW CAN WE AS PEOPLE HELP?
 We can decrease the amount
of oil spills by lessening our
dependence on petroleum
products like plastic
containers, and polyester
clothes, and instead use
recycled and biodegradable
products. We can also walk,
ride bikes, or carpool, to
decrease the demand for oil,
therefore lessening the
amount of oil used, and the
amount of oil that needs to
be drilled.