Hazardous Wastes Crude oil and refined petroleum products can enter the marine environment through tanker accidents, fueling, tank cleaning, bilge pumping, improper disposal or on-land spills into storm drains. Other hazardous substances may also be spilled as a result of transportation, industrial accidents or illegal disposal practices. Spills of oil and other hazardous materials occur every year in the Bay and its watershed, each with the potential for serious affects on the water quality and marine resources.
Spills can directly kill marine organisms through smothering, hypothermia or acute toxicity.
The animals and populations that survive may display symptoms of stress or chronic poisoning, such as increased mortality rates or reproductive failures. Two natural seeps, one about 2.3 miles off Redondo Beach, the other about 4.5 miles off Manhattan Beach, also release oil into the Bay.