Ukuchitheka kukawoyela kuwuhlobo lokungcola okungenzeka emhlabeni noma emanzini, kodwa ikakhulukazi ukuchitheka kukawoyela kutholakala olwandle. Ukuchitheka kukawoyela ngokuyisisekelo kuwukukhishwa noma ukuchithwa kwemikhiqizo kaphethiloli (uwoyela ongahluziwe, uphethiloli, uwoyela we-petroleum kanye neminye imikhiqizo ekhiqizwayo) futhi ikakhulukazi kubangwa amaphutha abantu.

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Ukuchitheka kukawoyela ukukhishwa kwe-petroleum hydrocarbon ewuketshezi endaweni ezungezile, ikakhulukazi i-ecosystem yasolwandle, ngenxa yezinto ezenziwa abantu, futhi iwuhlobo lokungcola.

Igama livame ukunikezwa ukuchitheka kukawoyela wasolwandle, lapho uwoyela ukhishelwa olwandle noma emanzini asogwini, kodwa ukuchitheka kungenzeka futhi emhlabeni.

Ukuchitheka kukawoyela kungase kube ngenxa yokukhishwa kukawoyela ongahluziwe emathangini, izinkundla ezingasogwini, izinsimbi zokumba kanye nemithombo, kanye nokuchitheka kwemikhiqizo kaphethiloli ecolisisiwe (efana nophethiloli, udizili) kanye nemikhiqizo yayo, amafutha asinda kakhulu asetshenziswa imikhumbi emikhulu njenge i-bunker fuel, noma ukuchitheka kwanoma iyiphi imfucumfucu enamafutha noma uwoyela olahlwayo.

Ukuchitheka kukawoyela kungena esimisweni sezimpaphe zezinyoni noboya bezilwane ezincelisayo, kunciphise ikhono lazo lokuvikela imvelo, futhi kuzenze zibe sengozini enkulu yokushintshashintsha kwezinga lokushisa futhi zinganyakazi kakhulu emanzini.

Ukuhlanza nokubuyisela ekuchithekeni kukawoyela kunzima futhi kuncike ezintweni eziningi, okuhlanganisa uhlobo lwamafutha achithekile, izinga lokushisa lamanzi (elithinta ukuhwamuka nokuwohloka kwemvelo), kanye nezinhlobo zogu namabhishi ahilelekile. Ukuchitheka kungathatha amasonto, izinyanga noma ngisho neminyaka ukuhlanza.

Ukuchitheka kukawoyela kungaba nemiphumela eyinhlekelele emphakathini; kwezomnotho, kwezemvelo, nangokwenhlalo. Ngenxa yalokho, izingozi zokuchitheka kukawoyela ziqale ukunaka okukhulu kwabezindaba kanye nesiyaluyalu sezombangazwe, okuhlanganisa abaningi emzabalazweni wezombangazwe ophathelene nokusabela kukahulumeni ekuchithekeni kukawoyela nokuthi yiziphi izenzo ezingavimbela kangcono ukuthi zingenzeki.