effects of oil spill on sea otters
TRANSCRIPT
Effects of Oil Spill on Sea Otters
It is shameful that marine life is declining because of the detrimental effect of oil spills and
wastes that enter water due to human activities. Oil spills are washed into the sea water in
number of ways. Oil spill contaminants contain noxious substances including crude oil,
refined petroleum by-products such as diesel oil and gasoline. These oil spill contaminants
are non biodegradable and non eco-friendly, and damage marine life.
Otters are mainly found in coastal areas and island water. When an oil spill or discharge
takes place in the ocean, oil spill contaminants cover the body of otters. When the oil is
coated on the fur of the otter, it impairs their ability to keep warm. This results in
hypothermia and finally death of the animal.
Sometimes, these otters may unknowingly consume the oil, which is present in the water.
These oil spill contaminants pass to their liver and lungs causing irreparable damage to the
internal organs.
It is believed that during the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill that occurred on March 24, 1989 many
otters died. Approximately about 1,000 oiled sea otter carcasses were found, but the
number of otters that died due the oil spill is still not known. Since bodies of oiled otters
usually sink to the bottom of the ocean, researchers believe that this number just indicates a
small portion of the total number of otters that were killed in that oil spill.
Eco-friendly oil spill cleanup methods should be used to clean oil discharges and protect
endangered species. Oil Gone Easy S-200 is a natural product that can be used to clean oil
spills. Oil Gone Easy S-200 is biodegradable and can be applied directly to the contaminated
water. It actually decomposes oil contaminants into compounds, which are harmless and
don’t affect marine life. It’s our duty to save these otters from destruction. Use green
products like Oil Gone Easy S-200 to have a safe and pollution free environment.