Human Changes to the Environment
Humans can change the environment in many ways. Some of these changes can be helpful and some can be harmful to humans and other organisms. The following section will show how harmful humans can be to trier environment.
Oil Spills
People today are extremely dependent on oil. Refined petroleum becomes gasoline for cars and trucks. Oil can be converted into heating fuel. Oil can also be used to produce plastics and asphalt for roads and roofs. Some oil seeps through the earth naturally. In 1859 prospectors drilled the first modern oil wells. Today large amounts of oil enter the environment because of accidents. On March 24,1989, in the upper part of Prince William Sound, the tanker Exxon Valdez grounded on Bligh Reef. There were approximately 53 million gallons of crude oil on the tanker. Almost 11 million gallons of them spilled into Prince William Sound within a few days. This was the largest tanker spill in United States history. It is estimated that at least 33,000 sea birds, 980 otters, and 136 bald eagles may have died from the accident. Six years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, restoration efforts are still underway.
Science Activity # 5
Clean up an oil spill.
Objective
To have a better understanding of why oil spilled in water is so difficult to remove.
Materials needed
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1. Shallow rectangular baking pan.
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2. Cooking oil.
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3. Cold water.
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4. Baking soda, cotton balls, dish washing liquid, towels, and sponges.
Procedure
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1. Pour water into the pan so that it is half full.
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2. Pour a small amount of oil into the water and notice the slick that form on the surface.
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3.Try to clean the spill with the different cleaning materials.
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4. Rate the effectiveness of the different materials.
Form your conclusions.
