how does petroleum affect the environment?
please no links thank you! (:
We usually don't give answers with no work. If you don't want to read you don't want to work. I'll be glad to provide a link but you must read it to get the answer
"This chapter is from the book
Powering the Future: A Scientist's Guide to Energy IndependencePowering the Future: A Scientist's Guide to Energy Independence
"Learn More Buy
Environmental effects of petroleum
Petroleum causes pollution at every stage, from mining and recovery to refining, transporting, and using it as fuel. Drilling wells can cause direct pollution via oil spills. Drilling also often involves injecting watery liquids into the wells; later released as drilling muds, these cause their own toxic pollution.
The notorious Exxon Valdez oil spill taught us that transporting oil by tanker ships can lead to disaster. Transporting oil by pipeline or truck can also lead to spills, because pipes break and trucks sometimes have accidents.
Crude oil—oil as it comes out of the ground—is many chemicals mixed together, and these must be separated into gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, heating oil, and heavier materials. This is what a refinery does: Like a giant chemistry set, it heats crude oil and separates its chemicals according to their density. The strong odors that make passersby wrinkle their noses are petroleum chemicals that the refinery has released into the environment—chemical pollutants. Travelers nearing the end of the New Jersey Turnpike on their way to the tunnels into New York City know exactly what I'm talking about.
These are just an indication of the potential for refineries to leak chemicals into the air, soil, and groundwater; to suffer accidental fires and breakages that produce more pollution; and to create sites that are heavily toxic for future generations."
@DrBob222 i would like the link (:
Thank you so much @Ms. Sue
You're welcome.
Petroleum, also known as crude oil, has several negative effects on the environment. Here are a few of the key ways petroleum can impact the environment:
1. Oil Spills: When petroleum is spilled into bodies of water, such as oceans or rivers, it can have devastating effects. Oil spills harm aquatic life, including fish, birds, and marine mammals, by coating their feathers or fur and disrupting their ability to breathe, swim, or fly. These spills also pollute the water, impacting the entire ecosystem.
2. Air Pollution: Burning petroleum releases a variety of air pollutants, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. These pollutants contribute to climate change and air pollution, which can have detrimental effects on human health, as well as plant and animal life.
3. Habitat Destruction: Petroleum extraction often requires clearing large areas of land, leading to habitat destruction. This can result in the displacement or extinction of local plant and animal species, as well as disruption of entire ecosystems.
4. Water Pollution: Petroleum refining processes produce waste byproducts that can contaminate nearby water sources. These contaminants can harm both aquatic organisms and humans who rely on those water sources for drinking or agricultural purposes.
5. Climate Change: The burning of petroleum and its byproducts is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide. These emissions trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change. The consequences of climate change include rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and habitat loss for many plant and animal species.
To gather more detailed information on the impacts of petroleum on the environment, you can conduct further research using reliable sources such as scientific publications or environmental organizations.