🔍 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