Gasoline Contamination: Explanation

Gasoline Contamination

- Gasoline spills from leaking underground storage tanks is one the most common source contaminations. Nationwide, leaking underground petroleum storage tanks threaten shallow ground-water supplies and allow gasoline vapors to move into underground structures. Gasoline is also causing contamination in natural sources like drinking water. Gasoline is also affecting other natural sources like forests, and animals. The pollution that the gasoline that is being admitted into the air is casuing is contaminating widlife, and casuing it to die.

- Toxic waste can cause great devastation to the environment. If toxins seep into soil or water, they can be transmitted to fresh water that people use in their everyday lives. This can lead to many health problems down the road. Bioremediation is a process that naturally cleans up toxic chemicals that have been spilled or dumped.

When oil is spilled in the ocean, it initially spreads primarily on the surface of the water. How much it spreads depends on its relative density and composition. The oil slick formed may remain cohesive, or, if seas are rough, it may break up. Waves, water currents, and wind can force the oil slick to drift over large areas, impacting the open ocean, coastal areas, and marine and terrestrial habitats in the path of the drift.

Oil that contains volatile organic compounds partially evaporates, losing 20 to 40 percent of its mass and becoming denser and more viscous. A small percentage of oil may dissolve in the water. The oil residue also can spread almost invisibly in the water or combine with water to form a thick mousse-like substance. Part of the oil waste may sink with suspended particulate matter, and the remainder eventually congeals into sticky tar balls.

Over time, oil waste deteriorates (weathers) and disintegrates because of exposure to sunlight (photolysis) and biodegradation. The rate of biodegradation depends on the availability of nutrients, oxygen, and microorganisms, as well as temperature.