Question 17 of 30
Heavy fuel oils when spilled are ___________ .
A
more harmful to sea life than lighter oils
B
easier to clean up than lighter refined oils
C
less harmful to sea life than lighter oils
D
not a real threat to marine life
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Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is Option C: less harmful to sea life than lighter oils.
Heavy fuel oils are more persistent and tend to form thick mats or sink, causing physical smothering of marine organisms. However, compared to lighter refined products (like gasoline or diesel) which contain higher concentrations of toxic volatile aromatics, heavy fuel oils are generally considered less acutely toxic to sea life.