Blumer, M | Sanders, H L | Grassle, J F | Hampson, G R
OIL POLLUTION OF THE OCEAN IS AN INCREASINGLY SERIOUS GLOBAL PROBLEM. THE OILS IN PETROLEUM ARE DIFFERENT IN COMPOSITION AND TOXICITY FROM THOSE OCCURRING NATURALLY IN LIVING MARINE ORGANISMS. THESE DIFFERENCES PRESENT A THREAT TO OCEAN LIFE AND ULTIMATELY TO HUMAN WELFARE, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE SCOPE OF THE POLLUTION. SCIENTISTS POINT OUT THAT THE MAJOR CATASTROPHES SUCH AS TANKER WRECKS RECEIVE THE HEADLINES, BUT THE SMALLER DAY-TO-DAY SPILLS IN COASTAL WATERS AND HARBORS OF THE WORLD PRODUCE CHRONIC POLLUTION MUCH LARGER IN VOLUME AND PROBABLY MORE SEVERE IN BIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES. CHRONIC OIL POLLUTION CONTAMINATES NEARSHORE WATERS THAT ARE THE KEY TO THE SURVIVAL OF MOST MARINE ANIMALS THAT ARE TAKEN FOR MAN'S FOOD. OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, THIS PERSISTENT POLLUTION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE NORMAL LIFE PROCESSES OF THE ORGANISMS--AS WELL AS KILLING THEM OUTRIGHT AT HIGH CONCENTRATIONS. THE RESULT MAY BE PROGRESSIVE DISAPPEARANCE OF USUALLY ABUNDANT FISH AND SHELLFISH. THEIR DECLINE WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN POLLUTION-TOLERANT SPECIES THAT GENERALLY INDICATE AN UNHEALTHY STATE OF BIOLOGICAL AFFAIRS. FURTHERMORE, REMAINING ORGANISMS OF FOOD VALUE TO MAN MAY BE PERMANENTLY CONTAMINATED WITH PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS THAT COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH. (SILBER-FLORIDA)
Descriptors: Boundary element method | Mathematical analysis | Pollution abatement | Crude oil | Oceans | Marine | Foods | Oil pollution | Contamination | Toxicity | Coastal | Health | Fish | Hazardous | Killing | Hydrocarbons | Oil spills | Animals | Survival
OIL POLLUTION OF THE OCEAN IS AN INCREASINGLY SERIOUS GLOBAL PROBLEM. THE OILS IN PETROLEUM ARE DIFFERENT IN COMPOSITION AND TOXICITY FROM THOSE OCCURRING NATURALLY IN LIVING MARINE ORGANISMS. THESE DIFFERENCES PRESENT A THREAT TO OCEAN LIFE AND ULTIMATELY TO HUMAN WELFARE, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE SCOPE OF THE POLLUTION. SCIENTISTS POINT OUT THAT THE MAJOR CATASTROPHES SUCH AS TANKER WRECKS RECEIVE THE HEADLINES, BUT THE SMALLER DAY-TO-DAY SPILLS IN COASTAL WATERS AND HARBORS OF THE WORLD PRODUCE CHRONIC POLLUTION MUCH LARGER IN VOLUME AND PROBABLY MORE SEVERE IN BIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES. CHRONIC OIL POLLUTION CONTAMINATES NEARSHORE WATERS THAT ARE THE KEY TO THE SURVIVAL OF MOST MARINE ANIMALS THAT ARE TAKEN FOR MAN'S FOOD. OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, THIS PERSISTENT POLLUTION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE NORMAL LIFE PROCESSES OF THE ORGANISMS--AS WELL AS KILLING THEM OUTRIGHT AT HIGH CONCENTRATIONS. THE RESULT MAY BE PROGRESSIVE DISAPPEARANCE OF USUALLY ABUNDANT FISH AND SHELLFISH. THEIR DECLINE WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN POLLUTION-TOLERANT SPECIES THAT GENERALLY INDICATE AN UNHEALTHY STATE OF BIOLOGICAL AFFAIRS. FURTHERMORE, REMAINING ORGANISMS OF FOOD VALUE TO MAN MAY BE PERMANENTLY CONTAMINATED WITH PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS THAT COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH. (SILBER-FLORIDA)
Descriptors: Boundary element method | Mathematical analysis | Pollution abatement | Crude oil | Oceans | Marine | Foods | Oil pollution | Contamination | Toxicity | Coastal | Health | Fish | Hazardous | Killing | Hydrocarbons | Oil spills | Animals | Survival
