Oil plays a vast and vital role in our society as it is organized today. Oil represents much more than just one of the main energy sources used by mankind.
On the other hand, oil refinery holds a major potential of hazards for the environment, and may impact it at different levels: air, water, soil, and consequently all living beings on our planet.
Other environmental impacts include intensification of the greenhouse effect, acid rain, poorer water quality, groundwater contamination, among others. Oil refinery may also contribute to biodiversity loss as well as to the destruction of ecosystems that, in some cases, may be unique.
Most potential environmental impacts related to oil refinery are already well documented. It is still necessary to find ways to conciliate industry development with environmental protection, that is, with sustainable development.
