🔍 Key Concepts
• Heavy fuel oils vs lighter refined oils (like diesel or gasoline) – think about thickness, how fast they spread, and how long they remain in the environment
• Toxicity and persistence – how long the oil stays in the water and on shorelines, and how hard it is to remove
• Impact on marine life – especially on birds, marine mammals, and organisms living on the bottom or in shore areas
💭 Think About
• Compare how quickly lighter oils evaporate or break down versus how long heavy fuel oils remain in the environment
• Think about which type of oil (heavy vs light) tends to stick to feathers, fur, and shorelines more stubbornly, and how that affects survival of sea life
• Consider whether "easier to clean up" and "less harmful" sound realistic for a thick, tar-like oil product
✅ Before You Answer
• Verify whether heavy fuel oils are more or less persistent in the environment than lighter oils
• Check which oils are harder to remove from shorelines, rocks, and wildlife once spilled
• Confirm whether heavy, tar-like oils are generally considered more or less toxic and damaging to marine organisms than lighter refined products