Burning oil

The burning of oil is hazardous for the environment and for the animals. When we burn oil, carbon dioxide is released into the air  causing more air pollution. Also, the burning of oil forms sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides  when mixed to moisture, acid rain is formed ("Burning Oil Threatens Environment"). Acid rain can be very harmful for many animals. When acid rain falls on a large amount of water, it then alters the pH levels putting all the animals in the water at risk ("Burning Oil Threatens Environment"). Once the pH level in the water reaches an acidic level, "fish and dwelling decomposers will die" ("Burning Oil Threatens Environment"). Furthermore, any animal or insect that drinks from this water will either get really sick or die due to the acidic level ("Burning Oil Threatens Environment").

Work Cited:
"Burning Oil Threatens Environment - AccuWeather.com." Burning Oil Threatens Environment - AccuWeather.com. 27 Feb. 2011. Web. 5 May 2015.

-Janine C.

Fracking

Natural gas is found through a method known as fracking. Fracking is drilling down earth surface with high pressure directed straight into a rock to release natural gas. "Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out the head of the well" ("What Is Fracking and Why Is It Controversial?"). This method has a significant impact on the environment. If carcinogen chemicals were to escape at any time, it could contaminate the ground water near the fracking site, putting many people at risk of not having clean water.  Also, it has been shown that fracking has caused minor earthquake."Two small earthquake of 1.5 and 2.2 magnitude hit Blackpoll area in 2011 following fracking" ("What Is Fracking and Why Is It Controversial?").  Fracking causes great damage to th earth, causing unnatural disasters. 

Work cited: 

"What Is Fracking and Why Is It Controversial? - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., 27 June 2013. Web. 04 May 2015.

-Janine C.

Drilling For Petroleum

Drilling for petroleum has a big impact on the marine life. When drilling we are eliminating any vegetation and top soil. This leads to the loss of some wildlife habitat, reduction in plant diversity, and it increases the potential of erosion, and there is also an introduction of invasive or noxious weeds ("Oil and Gas Drilling/Development Impacts"). In addition, there is a reduction of habitat and many animals tend to die due to the drilling. Also, the animals are at risk of contamination. If one of the pipelines were to burst or leek, this will then cause an oil spill that is hazardous for everyone. 

Work Cited:

"Oil and Gas Drilling/Development Impacts." Oil and Gas Drilling/Development Impacts. Web. 28  Apr. 2015.

-Janine C.

Oil Spill

Oil spills can be very catastrophic for both humans and for the marine life. When there is an oil spill it contaminates the water. This water contains arsenic, as well as cadmium, mercury, lead, zinc and copper ("The Effects of Oil Drilling"). These metals are very toxic for human and for animals. Mercury is a toxicant that grows in the in body and it takes a long time to get it all out of your system. Therefore, while animals are traveling with this toxic we then consume it ourselves when we eat them, causing us to be in danger. As a result of animals consuming this water, it can reduce their heart shape, their ability to swim, reproductive system or it can cause them to develop a tumor (Biello 168 – 169). One of the most recent tragedies that we have seen of an oil spill has been the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Rowan Gould states, “this spill is significant and, in all likelihood, will affect fish and wildlife across the Gulf, if not all of North America, for years, if not for decades” (Biello 166). Due to this oil spill we have lost an entire generation of young marine life, and the saddest part is that we will never really know how much of an impact this oil spill had until many years to come (Biello 167). Oil spill cause great damage to the marine life and much of it is still unknown.  

Work Cited:

Biello, David. "How Did the BP Oil Spill Affect Gulf Coast Wildlife?" Sustainability: A Bedford Spotlight Reader. Boston, New York: Bedford Bks St Martin'S, 2015. 166-71. Print.

"The Effects of Oil Drilling." The Effects of Oil Drilling. Web. 24 Apr. 2015.

-Janine C.

Natural Gas

Natural gas which is highly flammable, is a mixture of methane and hydrocarbons. According to the “Natural Gas Organization”, natural gas was first used in ancient time by the ancient Greece. Afterwards, the Chinese used bamboo as pipelines to transfer natural gas to heat salt water to make it drinkable. The first time natural gas was used as fuel was in Britain when natural gas was produced from coal, to light houses and streets. In the United States, natural gas was first used in 1816 to light the streets of Baltimore, Maryland (Natgas). Colonel Edwin Drake founded both petroleum and natural gas after drilling 69 feet below earth surface (Natgas). By 1821 the first well specifically drilled in search for natural gas was dug by William Hart; he later became known as the “father of natural gas” (Natgas).  In the 19 century natural gas was only used as a fuel for light (Natgas). However, 1885 Robert Bunsen invented the Bunsen burner, which was an object that successfully balance the amount of natural gas and air together, which then creates flame that people could use to cook and heat (Natgas). By the 20^th century pipeline where built around the country to transfer natural gas to homes (Natgas). Now natural gas was not only used as a fuel to light up streets and homes but also it was used to cook and heat.

Work Cited:

Natgas. "NaturalGas.org." NaturalGasorg. WordPress and Newsprint Theme, 20 Sept. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

-Janine C.

Petroleum

Petroleum also known as crude oil is a chemical substance found deep down in earth surface. Petroleum can be either a yellow or black liquid that is mixed with hydrocarbons. The founder of petroleum is Colon Edwin Drake who was the first person to ever successfully drill an oil well ("Petroleum History"). He initially was looking for kerosene, which is a highly flammable hydrocarbon liquid, to fuel his light bulbs, however, he ended up finding petroleum. The people believed that petroleum was a substance that was useless and unnecessary that two business man where selling. However, once the war began oil then became a necessity. By the end of the war everyone had transition to vehicles, trucks, ships and planes. Due to this transition, oil began to become a critical component that every nation needed. The people began to think that in order to have speed and mobility we needed oil. By 1940 the United State was producing 65 percent of the world oil ("Petroleum History"). Today, we continue to use oil to fuel our vehicles. planes, ships and trucks. 

Work Cited: 

"Petroleum History." - The Environmental Literacy Council. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.              

"What Is Petroleum?" What Is Petroleum? Web. 14 Apr. 2015.        

-Janine C.