When spilled, oil can pose both an immediate danger and subsequent danger to the environment. Motor oil is quite a volatile substance, and can cause immediate harm to animals, including humans, should there be exposure. Oil can prevent animals from cleaning themselves, and can cause serious respiratory and health problems as well. The residual effects of an oil spill can be just as dangerous as the standard effects. For example, even a single quart of oil can contaminate several thousand gallons of drinking water; making it taste terrible. When oil is spilled in a lake or a contained body of water, it can contaminate that entire area making it difficult for marine organisms to survive.
Oil spills are perhaps most dangerous as runoff, because when a spill from a garage, driveway, or parking lot occurs, the oil then seeps into drains, or permeates into the ground where it mixes with ground water. This can cause serious damage to the environment. When it comes to oil spills, it’s essential to clean them up right away.