Final answer:
Dispersion breaks oil into small droplets for digestion by marine bacteria, reducing immediate hazards but potentially introducing long-term effects into the food chain.
Explanation:
Dispersion is the method used for an oil spill out at sea to break the oil into small droplets. Dispersants, like Corexit 9527, contain amphiphilic molecules that emulsify oil, increasing its surface area for digestion by marine bacteria.
While dispersion helps reduce the immediate hazards of oil spills to ecosystems, it also introduces the risk of long-term effects by dispersing potentially toxic components of petroleum into the food chain.
Skimmer ships, controlled burning, and bioremediation are other methods used for oil spill cleanup but have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Learn more about oil spill cleanup methods here:
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