Quote:
Originally Posted by dyna mo
Here's another thing. that was unprocessed natural crude oil coming straight from the ground,
Most people don't get that natural oil seepage into the oceans is profound, for instance, a natural oil seep off the coast of Santa Barbara leaks 25 tons of crude oil DAILY. every day of every week of every year year after year after year.
that's just one.
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The nature of natural oil leaks is very different.
"Seeps are generally very old and flow at a very low rate. The material that flows out is still very often toxic, but organisms some that live nearby are adapted to conditions in and around seeps. A few very unique species of animals are even able to use the hydrocarbons and other chemicals released at seeps as a source of metabolic energy. In addition, rather than being made up entirely crude oil, the material flowing from seeps is often heavily biodegraded by microbial action deep beneath the seafloor.
In contrast, the production, transportation, and consumption of oil by humans generally results in relatively short, high-volume inputs of oil and refined hydrocarbon products in places that have never experienced significant exposure to these chemicals and so do not have many natural defenses to them."
http://www.whoi.edu/oilinocean/page.do?pid=51880