Environmental Impacts of Oil Spills on Land in the United States

The 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill created a major environmental scandal in the United States but in the country's history, the largest oil spill was the Lakeview gusher, which occurred in 1910 in California. It spewed about 378 million gallons of oil and it flowed for more than 17 months, according to the "Los Angeles Times." The Lakeview gusher occurred on the land, flowing through the scrubby brush between the towns of Taft and Maricopa. Oil spills on land happen frequently -- from the pipelines, tankers, industrial waste and many other sources. Most of them are too small to notice, but no matter how small the spill is, collectively, it creates environmental problems.

Fire Hazard

• One of the biggest concerns when the Lakeview gusher occurred was fire. Oil is highly flammable and a small contact with fire can set the entire area covered with oil on fire. Oil spills in residential or industrial areas are an even bigger threat to people's lives and businesses.

Contaminated Soil

• When an oil spill stays on the soil for long time, it kills living organisms. It affects the fertility of the soil and the saturated area becomes unfit for vegetation. Oil-contaminated land becomes economically useless.

Groundwater Pollution

• Drinking water comes from groundwater, streams, rivers, springs and lakes. Oil spills on land poise a direct threat to the water that flows to American households. If the oil spills contaminate any of these water sources, it poses a health threat to anyone who drinks or uses the contaminated water.

Threat to Wildlife

• As noted in a study by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, oil causes harm to wildlife through physical contact, ingestion, inhalation and absorption. Birds covered with oil lose their ability to fly. Coastal wildlife suffocated during the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Oil contamination also can cause loss of the insulating capability of feathers and fur and may lead to hypothermia. Oil spills deprive the wildlife of a healthy habitat and expose them to predators when they search for a new home.