The spillage of oil tankers in the waters during transit is the deadliest kind of water pollution. Due to oil spills every
year thousands of sea birds and marine animals are killed. The heavy contamination and increased water temperatures have wiped out endemic species of fish in many habitats. Oil spills destroy birds, fish, and mammals, and may contaminate the ocean floor for many years after the event.
It is so because the crude oil is not used in the same state as it is produced at off shore wells. Rather it is converted in refineries into a wide range of products such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel, fuel oils and petrochemical feed stocks, before it is refined.
All crudes carry heavy
content of nickel and vanadium which is highly toxic. The
sulphur content in the crude is noxious. Most crudes have paraffin content like methane and ethane which are asphyxiants or which lead to suffocation. The toxic action of these compounds is principally on the nervous system of the marine life and mainly results in respiratory paralysis. The sulphur in crude causes damage of liver and kidneys of sea animals.
The irreversible loss of biodiversity has a serious impact on the ability of remaining species, including humans, to survive. Humans depend on species diversity and healthy ecosystems to provide food, clean air and water, and fertile soil for agriculture.