Effects of Oil Spills on Wildlife
Damage and Restoration
Oil spills affect wildlife and their habitats in many ways. The severity of the injury depends on the type and quantity of oil spilled, the season and weather, the type of shoreline, and the type of waves and tidal energy in the area of the spill.Oil tends to spread into a thin layer on the water surface as a sheen. Once in the water, oil undergoes weathering, a process that describes the physical, chemical, and biological changes that occur when oil interacts with the environment. Weathering reduces the more toxic elements in oil products over time, as exposure to air,…
