The situation led to stress of the sea otters which led to gastrointestinal problems, shock, and death. Harbor seals were also affected by the spill. Although the seal does not rely on its coat for insulation and therefore did not suffer hypothermia due to coating of the oil, the oiling interfered with their mobility, ultimately causing the seal to drown. The oil caused lesions on the brains of heavily oiled seals which may have caused the abnormal behavior that was observed, including not trying to escape when approached. The oil was also incorporated into their tissues.
Many actors affect the fate and effects of oil spilled in the aquatic environment.
These processes not only affect the impact on the environment but also impact the effectiveness of cleanup operations. Times is of the essence when dealing with an oil spill. The use of chemical dispersants, if determined to be desirable and if mixing conditions are adequate, must be accomplished quickly before mousse is formed. Burning of the oil is also only effective before the oil is significantly weathered and the volatile fraction lost to evaporation. In the case of the Exxon Valdez, dispersants used in the first few days were not effective due to the calm water.