Marine Pollution: Oil Spills and Plastic

Marine pollution occurs when substances introduced or discharged by human activities, including industrial, agricultural, and residential waste, particulates, noise, excessive carbon dioxide, or invasive species, enter the water and result in detrimental effects.
The primary source of this pollution (80%) is attributed to activities on land, although marine transportation also plays a significant role.
Given that the majority of inputs originate from land, whether through rivers, sewage, or atmospheric deposition, continental shelves are particularly susceptible to the impacts of marine pollution.
Additionally, air pollution contributes to ocean contamination by transporting various substances such as iron, carbonic acid, nitrogen, silicon, sulfur, pesticides, and dust particles.

Table of Contents

OIL SPILL

An oil spill is a form of environmental pollution resulting from the release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons into the ecosystem, primarily affecting marine environments, due to human activities.
While the term is commonly linked with oil spills in oceans or coastal seas, occurrences can also take place on land.
Various sources contribute to oil spills, including the release of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs, and wells.
Additionally, spills involving refined petroleum products like gasoline and diesel, by-products of these products, and heavier fuels like bunker fuel used by large ships, contribute to the overall environmental impact.
The spillage of any oily refuse or waste oil further adds to the instances of oil spills.

CAUSES OF OIL SPILL

Oil spills can result from a variety of factors, including human error, natural disasters, technical malfunctions, and intentional releases.
Human errors, accounting for 30-50% of all oil spills, often involve equipment failure or malfunction, making up 20-40% of incidents.
Two primary types of oil spills exist: purposeful releases, such as operational discharges or acts of war, and accidental releases.
Natural seeps from seafloor rocks contribute 40-50% of oil spilled into oceans annually, totaling about 600,000 tonnes globally. While common, ecosystems adapt to these regular releases, minimizing harm.
Ocean microbes at natural seep sites break down oil molecules, aiding in environmental recovery.
Oil spills from vessels, including operational releases and tanker accidents, make up 21% of all oil released by ships.
Operational discharges result from noncompliance with regulations or uncontrolled discharges of waste oil and water.
The MARPOL convention regulates these releases, which have decreased by 50% since the 1990s.
Offshore oil platforms contribute 3% to ocean oil spills, with accidental leaks and blowouts being primary causes.
Blowouts, the most common, can last months until relief wells are drilled, releasing significant amounts of oil.
Pipelines are estimated to contribute 1% of ocean oil pollution, but underreporting and land spills contribute to the challenge.
Pipeline spills have increased over the last four decades due to fishing boat trawl, natural calamities, pipe corrosion, building faults, and theft.
Recreational vessels may cause minor oil spills due to operational or human errors, but underreporting makes tracing challenging.
Oil spills pose health risks to natives relying on seafood, degrade bird feathers, impact marine creatures’ insulation, reduce sunlight penetration, lower dissolved oxygen, and harm ecosystems, especially in mangroves and saltwater marshes.

OIL SPILL – REMEDIES

‘Remedies for oil spills include:

Bioremediation:

This method employs microbes to clean up oil spills in the ocean, particularly for pollutants like hydrocarbons in gasoline and oil.
Bacteria such as Cycloclasticus, Oleispira, Paraperlucidibaca, and Thalassolituus Zhongshania are utilized for bioremediation to remove contaminants.
The National Institute of Ocean Technology has discovered bacteria capable of removing hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from crude oil at a depth of 2100 meters in the Indian exclusive economic zone.
Eco-Friendly Crude Oil Bioremediation technology was developed in 2020 by the National Institute of Ocean Technology in Chennai to clean up oil spills.

Containment Booms, Skimmers, and Sorbents:

Booms or floating barriers are deployed by scientists to prevent oil from spreading into the ocean, facilitating the removal and dispersal of oil.
Skimmers are machines designed to separate spilled oil from the water’s surface.
Sorbents, including materials like volcanic ash, straw, and polyester-derived plastic shavings, absorb oil from water.
Chemicals containing compounds or surfactants that break down oil into tiny droplets are also utilized to clean water bodies.

PLASTICS

Plastics constitute a substantial portion of the harmful wastes directly released into the oceans.
Annually, an estimated 4 to 12 million metric tonnes of plastic find their way into the ocean.
India alone generates 62 million metric tonnes of waste each year, with 10-12 percent of it being plastic waste, encompassing single-use plastics.
This significant presence of plastics becomes a primary factor contributing to marine pollution.
Environmental studies identify China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Egypt, Thailand, and Nigeria as significant contributors to ocean plastic pollution.

FAQs – Marine Pollution: Oil Spill and Plastic

1-What is marine pollution?

A: Marine pollution occurs when substances introduced or discharged by human activities, such as industrial, agricultural, and residential waste, enter water bodies, resulting in harmful effects on the marine ecosystem.

2-What are the primary sources of marine pollution?

A: The primary source (80%) of marine pollution is activities on land, including industrial, agricultural, and residential processes. However, marine transportation also significantly contributes to pollution.

3-How does air pollution contribute to marine contamination?

A: Air pollution transports substances like iron, carbonic acid, nitrogen, silicon, sulfur, pesticides, and dust particles into the ocean, further contributing to contamination.

4-What is an oil spill?

A: An oil spill is a form of environmental pollution resulting from the release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons into the ecosystem, primarily affecting marine environments due to human activities.

5-What are the causes of oil spills?

A: Oil spills can result from various factors, including human error, natural disasters, technical malfunctions, and intentional releases. Human errors and equipment failures account for a significant portion.

6-How do natural seeps contribute to oil spills?

A: Natural seeps from seafloor rocks contribute 40-50% of oil spilled into oceans annually. Ecosystems have adapted to these releases, minimizing their harmful impact.

7-What are the major sources of oil spills from vessels?

A: Oil spills from vessels result from both operational releases, such as noncompliance with regulations, and accidental releases, including tanker accidents.

In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.

For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here

For Daily Updates and Study Material:

Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS

1. Learn through Videos – here
2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here

Marine Pollution: Oil Spills and Plastic – UPSC Environment Notes