Oil Spill Blog

Hurricanes are giant, free-wheeling tropical storms with a wind speed of over 160 miles. Responsible for more than 2.4 trillion gallons of rain on a single day, hurricanes can possibly flood a region with a single hit.

The Alex Hurricane has kick started the official hurricane season in the United States. With the oil spill cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico still under progress, environmentalists fear that hurricane Alex might push the oil spill to other parts of the coast. On the other hand, a few believe that the hurricane might help oil spill dispersal.

Generally, a hurricane will span around 200-300 miles, which is greater than the current size of the oil spill. Therefore, the hurricane’s impact on the oil spill will be minimal but the movement of the hurricane will influence the spread of oil. The storms might carry oil near the shore along with the contaminated debris from the Deepwater Horizon.

The good news is that powerful hurricane winds can tear into the slick, turn it into globules of oil, and accelerate the biodegradation process. The oil-eating microbes can function more effectively on droplets of oil rather than a big pool of oil. In addition, when large sheets of oil are broken down they can be easily weathered by oxygen, which can change the properties of crude oil. The broken down oil globules evaporate at a faster rate from the water surface, aiding the oil spill cleanup.

The use of biodegradable dispersants like Oil Gone Easy S-200 in the cleanup operations would pave way for oil-eating microbes to function efficiently. The Alex hurricane could be a blessing in disguise, as powerful winds could help break up and disperse offshore oil, giving a boost to the stalled oil spill cleanup operations.

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The moment we come across an oil spill, one remedy that strikes our mind is the use of oil spill dispersants. Though we’re aware that these dispersants can help contain an oil spill, most of us don’t know its exact working mechanism. We don’t even know if they are a boon or bane. If you have the same doubts in your mind, then read on!

Pros:

Here are some advantages of using oil spill dispersants

• Oil spill dispersants change the chemical and physical properties of oil so that it mixes better with water.

• Oil spill dispersants when used efficiently can prove to be a effective method of oil spill containment.

Cons:

Though using dispersants may seem like a fair idea, it has several drawbacks

• First and foremost, once dispersants break down oil in the deep water, the oil gets to the top surface, which is then contained using booms. But, what makes their use not advisable is the fact that they cannot be used near the shore. If used, they might be even toxic than the oil itself. For instance, Corexit, the dispersant being used in the containment of the recent Gulf oil spill is a kerosene-based dispersant and can be considered hazardous. Also, EPA recommends the use of this dispersant only at depths of 75 meters or deeper.

• Dispersants can be effective only when used within 1 or 2 days after an oil spill, after which natural weathering makes the oil more complex to disperse.

• Dispersed oil also stands the risk of entering the food chain as there are chances of the oil being consumed by planktons.

• Viscous oil cannot be dispersed effectively using chemical dispersants since the oil may run off into the water even before the solvents can penetrate.

Since chemical oil spill dispersants’ cons overweigh pros, you can think of using eco-friendly cleaners, such as Oil Gone Easy S-200, which works using bioremediation technique, to cleanup oil spills.

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Granite being durable and long lasting has become a popular flooring option in many houses. Even though granite flooring is scratch and heat resistant, it requires proper maintenance to keep it looking as shiny as it was at the time of purchase.

No matter how careful you are, spills on your granite flooring are unavoidable. Here are some useful tips to handle different spills on your granite floor:

• Can you even imagine a mark on your new elegant granite floor? Definitely not! Laying down a protective mat on your granite flooring that is exposed to sand or any gritty soils may considerably reduce the chances of getting a mark. Also, instead of using hard brooms and vacuums to remove the gritty soil, try mopping the floor with clean water.

• Food spills on the granite countertops in the kitchen are quite a normal scenario in every household. Cleaning can be as simple as just removing the remaining food with the help of a spoon, drying up the spilt area with a white cloth, spraying with a stone cleanser, and wiping it dry.

• One more spill that is very common in the kitchen is oil spill. Cooking oil and butter mainly contribute to this problem. Oil spill clean up on countertops is a daunting task. The spills can turn into oil stains if they are not cleaned immediately with appropriate cleaning materials. Cleaning up a granite oil stain is easier than before with Oil Gone Easy S-200. This product works as a bioremediation accelerator and agglomerator. It bonds to the oil and breaks it down into water and carbon dioxide, thus cleaning the oil stains completely.

Preventing oil spills and oil stains on the granite floor is a good option, but it is not possible all the time. So, be prepared to tackle it with Oil Gone Easy S-200.

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Oil spills on highways; most of us would never have given a second thought to them. But, once you just get a glimpse of their damaging effects, the impact will remain in your minds for a long time. In case of an oil spill on highways, not only are the people who live and drive in the nearby area exposed, but also the ocean’s, which may seem many miles away, are affected.

Here are some of the major impacts of oil spills that occur on highways:

• Highways are probably one area that is filled with a variety of toxic chemicals, including fuel and brake fluids. But how many of us are aware that the fuel spilt as a result of accidents and leaks from vehicles, reaches the nearby rivers and drains, when it rains? As estimated, the amount of oil leaked from highway runoff from a single large city is almost equal to that resulting from a tanker spill.

• Oil spill on a highway has one more profound impact; it makes the driving surface extremely slippery. The conditions get even worse when it rains, especially in areas with lower rainfall. It’s because of the fact that in such areas oil leaks from cars accumulate over long periods making the roads more slippery when it eventually rains.

• Well, this is not the end! Spills on highway can also affect public health. Apart from causing irritation to human skin, exposure to oil can increase the susceptibility to cancer. Also, since the runoff from highways contaminates the oceans, even marine life is affected and eventually the people who consume contaminated marine food.

Having gotten a fair idea about the effects of small or large oil spills on highways, you’ll no longer wonder about the importance of immediate oil spill containment. So, if you happen to come across an oil spill, then immediate response using eco-friendly oil spill cleaners, such as Oil Gone Easy S-200 may prove fruitful.

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What if someone pours gallons of crude oil on you, in your home, and over your entire neighborhood? Petrified by the act? Marine organisms face a similar plight whenever a marine oil spill occurs. Oil spill behavior irreversibly damages the fauna and flora of the marine eco system.

Rapid currents and wind spread the marine oil spill to coastal areas and other waterways all over the world. As the oil spreads, it turns into a sticky mass called mousse. When feathery creatures encounter this, they are soaked up in mousse, and begin battling for life.

Oil by nature has a tendency to keep us warm. When it clings on the feathers it makes birds lose their ability to insulate themselves, forcing them to death eventually. The mousse not only affects birds but also seal pups and otters, whose fur gets sticky and messy.

What is even worse is that the birds and animals try to wipe out the oil from their bodies by licking it! They accidently swallow the harmful oil and poison themselves with the toxins and harmful chemicals in the crude oil.

Marine oil spill also has a devastating effect on the reproduction rate. The Gulf of Mexico is the breeding ground for many turtles and sharks. The vast spread of the oil spill has affected the egg laying season of the marine life, leading to a decrease in the marine population. In extreme cases, the oil spill has adverse effects on the behavior of the marine life, making them even desert their young ones.

The use of chemical-based dispersants in cleaning up the oil spill instead of biodegradable options like Oil Gone Easy S-200 has also proved lethal. The oil that reaches the shore affects planktons and other organisms, depriving sea creatures of their food, which in turn disturbs the food web.

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