ITOPF estimated that between 1970 and 2016 approximately 5.73 million tons of oil were lost as a result of tanker incidents.
In 2011, oil spills reportedly harmed or killed approximately 82,000 birds of 102 species, approximately 6,165 sea turtles, and up to 25,900 marine mammals.
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
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Date: March 24, 1989
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11 million gallons of crude oil was spilled into Alaska’s Prince William Sound which was the worst oil spill in U.S. history until the DeepWater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010.
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The oil slick covered 1300 miles of coastline and killed hundreds of thousands of seabirds, otters, seals, and whales.
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Even thirty years later, patches of crude oil remain.
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It was discovered the captain of the Exxon Valdez was intoxicated and allowed an unlicensed mate to steer the ship.
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Policy Changes: Oil Pollution Act of 1990 increased penalties for companies responsible for oil spills and required all oil tankers to have a double hull.
Deep Water Horizon BP Oil Spill
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​Date: April 20-22, 2010
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Largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.
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The explosion occurred on April 20, 2010, and the rig subsequently sank on April 22.
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The explosion was caused by the ignition of natural gas released by a fracture in a concrete core.
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The explosion killed 11 workers, injured 17, and ruptured the riser
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With the riser ruptured, oil discharged into the gulf, and millions of barrels of oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico.
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An estimated 1,770 km of shoreline were polluted throughout Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
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The spill had a multitude of ecological impacts and was extremely detrimental for many ecosystems, especially those in marshes and estuaries located within the states affected.
Credit: Daniel Beltra
Current Solutions
Sorbents: soak up liquids by absorption (pulling in through pores) or adsorption (forming a layer). Ex: hay, peat moss, straw, vermiculite
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Dispersants:
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Dispersants, made up of oil-breaking molecules, are spread over the spill which break them down into more biodegradable pieces
Skimmers:
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Machines designed to suck up oil and water and physically separate them for collection and re-use
Booms:
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Act as a fence to prevent oil from spreading. Booms lie flat on the water's surface
Bioremediation:
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Using specific microorganisms to remove toxic substances. Bacteria, fungi, archaea, and algae can degrade petroleum products by breaking them into simpler and non-toxic molecules
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New Solutions
Oil-eating microbes:
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Hydrocarbon-eating bacteria, found in the deepest part of the ocean such as Alcanivorax borkumensis feast on spilled oil and may be a new solution for oil spills.
Credit: nationswell
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Floating treatment wetlands (FTW):
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A new approach to treat polluted water. It requires vegetation attached to buoyant mats. The plants and bacteria in FTWs enhance plant growth and pollutant degradation. Plant exudates provide nutrients to microbes that are able to degrade organic compounds better in the presence of plants.