Polar bears are affected by oil spills in Arctic

Climate change has not only devastating impacts on human beings but also on plant and animal populations. Like all the regions around the world, it is putting pressures on the Arctic region as well. Ice is melting that has allowed oil and gas exploration activities in the region. Climate change alone is subjecting Arctic nature to great pressure, which could make an oil spill occurring in this unique and sensitive region result in an environmental disaster.

According to a study carried out at the University of Helsinki, polar bears and marine birds are at the greatest risk in a potential oil spill, but the risk varies significantly depending on the timing of any spills and the characteristics of the oil spilled. The oil and gas reserves are drying in the South due to which business is rapidly moving into the Arctic Polar bear populations are expected to come under increased pressure if oil developments in the Arctic go ahead according to industry plans. Offshore operations pose the greatest risk, since routine emissions, spills or leaks will be discharged directly into the sea or on the sea ice.

Arctic oil spills are a global concern. As climate change is extending the duration of the ice-free period in the North, marine traffic is unavoidably increasing. For now, no large oil spills have occurred in the region, but as their probability grows due to increasing marine traffic. There are issues that need to be considered before this problem becomes disastrous. Once oil hits the water, it doesn’t stay in one place. Wind and currents move it around, sometimes over a relatively long distance. As a result, a spill that originates in open water can affect shoreline areas or can become embedded in sea ice. The type of oil spilled also makes a big difference. Certain types of oil like crude and heavy fuel oil, last in the environment for a long time. And oil has both acute and more lasting impacts on species. Oil spills have negative impacts on indigenous peoples’ food sources and on the wildlife species.

Polar bears are sensitive indicators of ecosystem health. If the polar bear population is at risk, often, it is a sign of something is wrong. Similarly, issues with polar bears in Arctic means that things are not going well in the Arctic marine ecosystem. If a major oil spill occurs at or near areas with high concentrations of polar bear, for example Hopen Island in the Barents Sea, it could have population-wide consequences as their habitat might get destroyed forever because there are no currently proven effective method for cleaning or controlling an oil spill in icy, arctic waters, where difficult weather conditions are common. Polar bears can also ingest oil through eating contaminated prey. The ingested oil can be toxic and cause liver and kidney damage. Bears can be poisoned by even a limited amount of oil on their fur. Contact with oil spills can reduce the insulating effect of the bears’ fur. The bear must then use more energy to keep warm, and compensate by increasing its caloric intake, which may be difficult.

So before initiating anthropogenic activities in the Arctic, wise considerations are needed so that polar bears don’t suffer.

by: Abeer Arshad

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