[Model Answer QP2023 GS3]What is oil pollution? What are its impact on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution, particularly harmful for a country like India?
Oil pollution refers to the inadvertent introduction of oil into the environment, particularly the marine biome. This pollution might arise from tanker accidents, oil rig spills, illegal dumping, or terrestrial runoff.
Impact on the Marine Ecosystem:
1. Physical Damage: When birds like seagulls and pelicans are coated in oil, their feathers lose their insulating properties, leaving them susceptible to cold and limiting their flight ability. In the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill, over 250,000 seabirds reportedly died.
2. Toxic Effects: The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oil can cause mutations and be lethal to marine life. For instance, after the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, there was a noted decline in dolphin fertility and increased mortality rates.
3. Food Chain Disruption: The planktonic base of the marine food chain can be decimated by oil pollution. In areas of oil pollution, fish that rely on plankton, such as Indian oil sardines, might experience population declines.
4. Habitat Destruction: India’s famous coral reefs, like those in the Gulf of Mannar, can suffer bleaching and death when exposed to oil pollution, disrupting the habitat of countless marine species.
5. Benthic Impact: Species such as lobsters and crabs, which are critical to India’s fisheries, may be directly impacted when oil settles on the seabed.
6. Ecosystem Imbalance: Disruption of certain species can lead to overpopulation of others. Post-oil spills, there might be an overgrowth of algae due to the death of algae-eating species, leading to oxygen depletion.
Oil Pollution’s Harm for India:
1. Biodiversity Loss: The Gulf of Mannar, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, harbors over 3,600 species of flora and fauna. An oil spill in these waters would jeopardize this rich biodiversity.
2. Economic Ramifications: Marine tourism, a major source of revenue in regions like Goa, can face downturns due to oil-polluted beaches. Moreover, the fishing industry, which employs over 14 million people in India, might face significant losses.
3. Mangrove Forests: The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, could be severely damaged by oil pollution, impacting the Royal Bengal Tigers and saltwater crocodiles.
4. Food Safety Concerns: Indian states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Goa rely heavily on seafood. Oil pollution can lead to the accumulation of toxins in seafood, posing health risks to consumers.
5. Clean-Up Challenges: The 2010 Mumbai oil spill, resulting from a collision between two ships, highlighted India’s challenges in swiftly addressing such disasters, with cleanup efforts stretching over several months.
6. Health Hazards: Communities along the coastline, especially in densely populated states like Kerala and Maharashtra, could face direct health impacts due to oil-contaminated water sources.
Conclusion:
Addressing the threats posed by oil pollution isn’t just an ecological imperative; it’s a cornerstone for sustainable development, the health of its citizens, and the preservation of its natural heritage.
