Many people always talk about oil spills in terms of how they affect terrestrial

Question

Many people always talk about oil spills in terms of how they affect terrestrial animals that also visit the sea but I would like to understand more of the effects of oil spills on marine wildlife and lots of examples of these especially tropical marine areas Many people always talk about oil spills in terms of how they affect terrestrial animals that also visit the sea but I would like to understand more of the effects of oil spills on marine wildlife and lots of examples of these especially tropical marine areas

Explanation / Answer

Oil spills affect marine wildlife badly in two ways - either directly by affecting physiologically because of direct contact and other is cellular level destruction due to toxicity or contamination .

sea birds and mammals who have plumage or fur get affected directly . The role of plumage and fur is to conserve heat . But the oil spill destroys this insulation layer and causes hypothermia in these animals leading to their death. Then also while bathing the oil contaminated water gets ingested and causes toxic effects.

Marine animals too get affected in terms of hypothermia due to destruction of their insulating structures. But oil spills also causes destruction of various organ systems as these toxic oil spills are ingested along with inhalation. Inhalation of toxic oil causes damaging of air pathway , corrosion in various respiratory linings.Continues direct exposure like in can lead to skin and eye irritation .

In seals these oils can get adhere with their fur which not only hampers it's insulating capacity but also creates difficulty in swimming. Ingestion of oil contaminated food causes internal damage to its health due to accumulation of hydrocarbons .

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