Oil spills affect more than just the human community

The oil industry drives many economies around the world and huge investment is made every day. The price of oil on the stock markets has the capacity to cause fluctuations in other sectors on the markets. Oil production is controlled so that demand is catered for but the markets are kept stable. Oil affects all our lives and we have become dependent upon it. As a result, the oil industry is big business with huge amounts of money involved. Oil companies are by and large, responsible and will do their utmost to ensure spillages do not occur.

However, accidents do happen and spills do occur. These spills can be devastating to the environment. As we have seen, oceanic oil spills are a real disaster for the environment and for the communities who live and work there. The oil is very harmful and takes days, weeks or even months to clean up. The biggest problem with oils spills is that the wind and tide carry the oil and disperse it over a large area making the cleanup more difficult.

It may take years for an area to recover from a spill as the ecosystem has to repair and replenish itself. Birds, coral and fish are particularly vulnerable. The whole food chain is affected and this is where the human community can be badly affected. The good news is that spills are rare and providing the clean up can occur quickly, damage will be reduced.