IV-370 



(3) Almost 80 billion pounds of synthetic organic chemicals 

 are produced annually by some 12,000 chemical companies. 

 These chemicals, many of which are toxic or have unknown 

 effects on aquatic or human life, range from everyday food 

 flavorings to lethal pesticides. 

 The damage to water uses can be demonstrated by consideration of a 

 catastrophic oil spill. Water birds are attracted by the slick on 

 the surface. Once they contact the oil, their feathers become matted 

 and oil soaked. The birds either drown, are killed by toxicosis from 

 ingested oils or by exposure from the loss of body insulation, starve 

 to death from inability to fly and search for food, or are eaten by 

 predators (Figure IV. 5. 10). 



Fish become coated with oil and their gills become clogged, resulting 

 in death. If the exposure is sublethal, their flesh becomes tainted 

 rendering them unfit for human consumption for a considerable time. 

 Toxic oil fractions in the water can kill the larval and adult forms 

 of invertebrate marine life necessary for a balanced ecosystem. 

 Aquatic vegetation is destroyed. An extreme fire hazard can exist, 

 depending on the type and extent of the oil blanket. Recreational 

 use of the water is impaired. Swimmers become coated with oil which 

 is difficult to remove; boat hulls are stained; beaches with oil 

 deposits become virtually unusable. Apart from the physical 

 damage, there is also a esthetic damage. Noxious odors may permeate the 

 shoreline areas; and waterfront properties are despoiled (Figure IV. 5. 11) 



