Title: Oil Spill Pollution | Environmental Pollution Centers
Headings: Oil Spill Pollution
Oil Spill Pollution
Definition
The Oil Pollution Act
How Does Oil Spill Pollution Affect Us?
Directly
Indirectly
How Does an Oil Spill Behave in the Environment?

Content: This regulation was meant to prevent and prepare emergency responses to oil spills. The Oil Spill Pollution Act: established new requirements and amended the U.S. Federal Water Pollution Control Act in order to provide enhanced capabilities for oil spill response and natural resource damage assessment; required the Coast Guard to strengthen its regulations on oil tank vessels; included the specification that companies must have a cleanup plan in order to prevent spills that may occur and a detailed containment; imposed liability for injuries, removal costs, and damages from incidents involving the discharge of oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. How Does Oil Spill Pollution Affect Us? These organic compounds may affect the wildlife (including fish and birds) and humans in various ways: Directly
by direct contact with the skin - some of the oil components could be irritants to the skin and may also penetrate into our bodies via skin absorption
through inhalation - many individual components of oil are volatile and thus may easily evaporate and while breathing can enter our bodies. Some less volatile compounds (such as PAHs) may adsorb on dust and other small particulate matter suspended in the breathing air and may get into our bodies through inhalation of small particulate matter from the air
through ingestion of contaminated water and/or particles
through emitted odors - How many of us have smelled gasoline or diesel/fuel oil and noticed the strong unpleasant smell?