EFFECTS OF USING DISPERSANTS ON OIL SPILL CLEANUP ON AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY: A BASIC REVIEW
The effects of using chemical dispersants during oil spill cleanup on aquatic biodiversity; dispersants break oil into smaller droplets, making it easier for microbial degradation to occur. However, they can pose risks to marine ecosystems by altering oil’s chemical properties and introducing toxic substances. There are both benefits and detriments of dispersants, emphasizing the balance between oil spill mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Oil spills pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. In the advent of an oil spill, dispersants are often used to break up the oil slick and facilitate its degradation. This review is birthed on the advocacy of crude oil spill clean-up in Ogoni Land as a litmus paper test, the government and multinational companies should be mindful of the type of dispersant to be used not to destroy the aquatic biodiversity resource; it also explores the effects of using dispersants on oil spill cleanup on aquatic biodiversity. To mitigate the harmful consequences, chemical dispersants are often employed to break down the oil, facilitating its natural biodegradation. Hence, the use of dispersants introduces complex ecological consequences, especially concerning aquatic biodiversity; the impact of dispersants on marine life, the benefits and limitations of their use, and the implications for long-term ecosystem health. It also evaluates various studies and offers an insight into the ecological dynamics involved in the response to oil spills. In order to mitigate the damage caused by oil spills, dispersants are often used to break up the oil slick and accelerate its degradation; while dispersants can help to clean up oil spills more quickly, they can also have unintended consequences for aquatic biodiversity.
KEYWORDS: Mitigation, Aquatic Biodiversity Resource, Crude Oil Spill, Dispersants, Aquatic Pollution
