Effects on Humans
- An oil in an immediate fire hazard -- obviously, oil is quite flammable. This poses a threat to any persons in or near the oil.
- If spilled oil was to ignite, it causes air pollution, which is an immediate threat to people nearby. For example, the Kuwaiti oil fires produced air pollution which caused respiratory harm to many nearby (shown left)
- Oil rigs and boats have the potential to detonate. For example, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion killed 11 workers.
- Oils spills may contaminate drinking water
- In 2000, an oil spill contaminated water springs in Clark County, KY.
- In 2013, water supplies for 80,000 people were contaminated by oil in Coca, Ecuador
- In 2013, water supplies for 300,000 people were contaminated by oil in Miri, Malaysia.
- Oil spills also have an economic impact on beach tourism, as well as the fishing industry.