The Effects of Oil
Source of Oil
- According to the released articles from “The Deepwater Horizon Response” website on June 10, 2010 the amount of oil being discharged into the Gulf of Mexico was up to 60,000 barrels (around 250,000 gallons of oil per day)
- Offshore oil production contributes only about 3% of the total in terms of global marine oil pollution
- However, natural oil seeps build up to 45% of yearly oil pollution with the remaining 52% coming from “down the drain” oil from petroleum transportation, and industrial oil consumption
- In Chapter 4 of the published “Environmental Impact of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry” it states that – “Land-based oil-containing discharges and atmospheric deposition of products of incomplete combustion can accordingly give 50% of total volume of oil hydrocarbon into the world ocean”
- Published: “Oil in the Sea III – Inputs, Fates, and Effects” by The National Research Council (2003) reports that – “Annual worldwide estimates of petroleum input to the sea exceed 1,300,000 metric tonnes (around 380,000,000 gallons)”
The Problems
The Fatalities of Oil
- Crude oil contains a brew of toxic and hazardous chemicals such as benzene which is known to cause cancer if exposed to workers and the general public who reside close to the affected area(s).
- Other toxins such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be harmful to the brain, and central nervous system.
- Brief contact with the oil is not considered harmful, but prolonged exposure can lead to illness very rapidly.
- If breathed in, ingested, or absorbed through the skin can cause headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, respiratory problems, and even changes in mental function. Similar to symptoms found in heat exposure, and food poisoning.
- But damage already done could run on deeper levels than just skin irritation and difficulty breathing. Researchers of Spanish and French coastlines have found increased damage to the DNA makeup of those extensively exposed to the oil without any protective masks.
Human Fatalities.
- Residents of the affected community are also at risk for dermal exposure to either crude oil in the water, or “weathered oil” washed ashore that can be inhaled due to toxins and other chemical extracts becoming airborne and carried by prevailing winds
- Many consumers, scientists, and researchers are also greatly concerned about the safety of digesting seafood primarily from this region of the Gulf of Mexico which is a substantial source of fish and mollusks consumed in the U.S.
- Health specialists fear that such toxic chemicals as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals found in oil can accumulate significantly in each step of the food chain and be ingested in higher levels in larger marine wildlife. Oysters are particularly susceptible.
- The symptoms of such chemical exposure are not always physical. The Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 (up until the Deepwater Horizon disaster) was the largest, most catastrophic oil disaster in history; has caused extreme psychological ailments in those exposed -including depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Oil's effect on animals.
When oil spills have the potential to kill any living thing exposed to them… it’s no wonder that such oil spills can cause marine life to be pushed into other untouched perimeters of the ocean. Deep water sharks can be found unusually close to shore on Florida beaches. Many of the sharks found (some have actually been washed ashore and stranded) displayed many symptoms typical to that of a marine oil poisoning – lethargic, disoriented, slow.
If sightings of sharks swimming closer to populated shores continue to mount – it could be a serious issue for the state of Florida in their effort to keep their tourism industry afloat in the wake of an oil spill.
The Key is Education
Information – To be completely transparent in the well-being (or lack thereof) of our environment… the consequences and the rewards.
Knowledge – To know the source of that information. The what, how, and why of the unnecessary atrocities we are currently facing.
Understanding – What this means for us directly as a whole – regardless of who we are, or what we do for a living, and how it can affect us.
Empathy – To relate that we are a product of our own environment, and to improve on the “if it happens to what is around me, then it is happening to me” mentality.
Passion – To feel emotionally involved and engaged by what we know and understand
Motivation – To satisfy our emotional engagement in a productive way
Purpose – A combination of all these elements combined to create an awareness of what needs to be done and when; “NOW”
Achievement – What do YOU want to achieve? In what direction do you want to go?
who we are.
Overview.
We came together in response to the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill that occured in the Gulf of Mexico in April of 2010. We were appalled as we witnessed the immediate, devastating impact of the environment. We also saw that the conventional cleanup methods being used were even more damaging to ecosystem, and were not solving the problem. we wanted to help with cleanup effort, so we decided to not be a team of onlookers, but a team that takes action and honors the fact that we are all responsible for the human impact on our planet.
Advanced Innovative Recovery Technologies, Inc. (AIRTech) was our first in finding a solution. Our mission was to be an integral part of resolving this global problem. We joined with one of the top chemists in the world to formulate a new, non-toxic foam product made from renewable resources. By shaping our foam into buoys, booms, and pads, and developing them around an oil spill, we are able to quickly absorb oil from a body of water as easily as you would use a sponge to mop up a spill at home. With the help of family, friends, a few investors, and years of hard work, we developed a product that was approved by the EPA, and also got the green light from the CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE. The foam is water repellent (hydrophobic), while it naturally absorbs oil and silicones (oleophilic). In addition to being highly absorbent on a molecular level, it is so resilient that it an be reused multiple times without degrading. We call it BeBetterFoam®.
Chairman of the AIRTech Board / Founder
blake ward
Blake has extensive marketing experience developing and assisting small to mid-size companies with private placement funding, and brings diversified experience in business management and corporate finance. Blake has extensive expertise in the construction industry. Since 1985, he has managed, consulted and started several construction and concrete cutting, coring and demolition companies which include American Concrete Cutting & Coring, Castillo Demolition & Concrete and Crown concrete Cutting & Coring.
Chief Executive Officer
Robert Doherty
Bob is a seasoned business and technology executive with experience in manufacturing, operations and engineering. He has successfully led global businesses and has a proven track record of consistently exceeding revenue and profit objectives. He has successfully taken two companies from start-ups to multi-million dollars in sales.
