The Environment | How Much Oil Is Dumped Into The Seas?

How much oil is dumped into the seas?

Every year, well over 3 million metric tons of oil contaminate the seas. (One metric ton equals .91 short tons; one short ton equals 2,000 pounds.) Half of this oil comes from ships, with the rest coming from land-based pollution. Only 33 percent of the oil is spilled by accident. More than 1.1 million metric tons of oil are deliberately discharged from the washing out of tankers.

Source of oil Percent of total
Tankers operational discharge 22
Municipal wastes 22
...
Tanker accidents 12.5
Atmospheric rainout (oil released by industry and cars) 9.5
Bilge and fuel oils 9.0

[The entire page is 238 words long]

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