**5. Conclusions**

Mercury and other potentially toxic substances associated with oil spills are a common occurrence in areas of oil exploitation. The negative effects of oil spills can be reduced by environmentally friendly human approaches and the resilience of the ecosystem. Oil exploitation is an investment that should be executed carefully in accordance with guidelines and policy. This oil investment can transform community and country livelihoods positively if managed in accordance with the eco-friendly guidelines and negatively if the sole focus of oil extraction is that of resource generation for country expenditures.
