Question

What are some potential environmental impacts from the extraction of oil? Discuss at least 2 potential impacts.(4 points)
grade 6

Answer 1

Here are three simple environmental impacts from extracting oil, explained for grade 6:

1. Oil spills and water pollution
- What happens: Oil can leak from ships, pipelines, or wells and get into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
- Why it’s bad: Oil coats birds’ feathers and marine animals’ fur, making it hard for them to stay warm or swim. It also poisons fish and other sea life.

2. Air pollution and climate change
- What happens: Burning oil and the machines used to drill release gases like carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air.
- Why it’s bad: These gases warm the planet (climate change) and can cause smog that makes breathing harder for people and animals.

3. Habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity
- What happens: Building roads, drilling pads, and pipelines clears land and can damage forests, wetlands, and other habitats.
- Why it’s bad: Animals and plants lose their homes, so some species may become fewer or disappear from the area.

(Any two of these explained clearly would meet the question’s requirement.)