Containment booms are floating barriers used to contain oil spills on water surfaces. They are typically manufactured from durable, flexible materials such as plastics, rubber, or PVC, which allow them to float and withstand harsh marine conditions while effectively preventing the spread of oil.

The initial impact of oil spills on animals is physical, primarily due to the coating of fur or feathers. This destroys the natural insulation and buoyancy of the animals, leading to hypothermia, drowning, or an inability to move effectively before chemical toxicity or biological damage occurs.

Bioremediation involves using microorganisms to degrade environmental contaminants. Certain bacteria, such as Alcanivorax, are specialized in breaking down complex hydrocarbon chains found in oil spills, converting them into less harmful substances like carbon dioxide and water through metabolic processes.

The International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Funds provide financial compensation for oil pollution damage resulting from spills of persistent oil from tankers. These funds are established under international conventions to ensure victims of oil spills are adequately compensated.

When oil is dispersed into smaller droplets in water, the surface area available for microbial colonization increases significantly. This increased surface area allows oil-degrading microorganisms to access the hydrocarbons more efficiently, thereby accelerating the rate of biodegradation of the oil spill in the marine environment.

Group 2 oils are classified as light, non-persistent oils. These substances typically have a specific gravity lower than water, often ranging around 0.85. This physical property determines how the oil behaves when spilled in aquatic environments, influencing its tendency to spread or evaporate.

When oil is released into the marine environment, it undergoes various physical and chemical processes. A significant portion of the oil disperses into the water column through wave action, currents, and chemical dispersion, where it can be further degraded by microbial activity or settle into sediments.

Photo-oxidation is a weathering process where sunlight reacts with oil on the water's surface. This chemical reaction breaks down complex hydrocarbons into smaller, more polar molecules. These resulting products are generally more water-soluble than the original crude oil, which facilitates their dispersion and potential degradation by microorganisms in the water column, although it can also increase the bioavailability of certain toxic fractions.

Sorbents are materials used to absorb or adsorb liquids, particularly in the event of an oil or chemical spill. By applying sorbents, responders can contain and recover the spilled pollutant, effectively preventing the further spread of the contaminant into the surrounding environment and facilitating cleanup efforts.

Heavy oil spills cause significant ecological damage by coating the fur of sea mammals and the feathers of sea birds. This coating destroys their natural insulation, leading to hypothermia, while ingestion of the toxic oil during grooming leads to internal organ failure and death.