Water
When crude oil ends up in water after a spill, it forms a thin layer that gradually becomes thicker. [1] Within weeks, the oil becomes very thick and traps fresh oil inside. Storms can break up the oil into small droplets that can disperse as small oil particles. When they collide with the suspended sediment, they form tarballs of oil, sand and algae. The oil particles can eventually collect enough sediment to sink to the bottom of the body of water and remain there.
Though the oil in the water can be broken down in time, it is a hard, and a time-consuming process. In the meantime, it causes devastating damage to the ecosystems around it and degrades the water quality severely as it is spread out quickly by the ocean currents and waves.
Though the oil in the water can be broken down in time, it is a hard, and a time-consuming process. In the meantime, it causes devastating damage to the ecosystems around it and degrades the water quality severely as it is spread out quickly by the ocean currents and waves.
[1] http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/04/pictures/120420-gulf-oil-spill-impact-studies/
[2] http://harkthelark.com/2010/09/30/the-impact-of-the-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill/
[2] http://harkthelark.com/2010/09/30/the-impact-of-the-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill/