Does oil in the sea only kill seabirds?
• No, oil spills can harm wildlife in a number of ways. However, it should be realized that there is no obvious relationship between the amount of oil spilled in the marine environment and the impact on wildlife. The impact will depend on such factors as the spread of the oil slick, the type of oil spilled, the location of the spill, the timing/season when the spill occurs, the sensitivity of the regional environment (e.g., species composition, proximity to bird breeding colonies, etc.) and the nature, toxicity and persistence of the oil. • Sea birds are particularly sensitive to oil. In a cold climate an oil spot the size of 2-3 sq. centimetres can be enough to kill a bird. The insulating effect of the plumage is destroyed by the oil, and the bird freezes to death (hypothermia). If a bird gets smeared with a lot of oil this may clog its feathers and make it impossible for the bird to fly. • Similarly, mammals (seals, polar bears, sea otters and others) living in cold water areas can a
