Atmospheric Distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Coastal Northern Gulf of Mexico, USA, Associated with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Atmospheric Distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Coastal Northern Gulf of Mexico, USA, Associated with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill PDF Author: Kimberly Scalise
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill, 2010
Languages : en
Pages : 116

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Book Description
The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill occurred April 20, 2010 to July 15, 2010, releasing a surface slick of crude oil extending to ~176,000 km2 in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Crude oil is comprised of thousands of organic compounds, many of which are toxic or carcinogenic. There is concern that some petroleum-derived toxic and carcinogenic hydrocarbons from the DWH spill may have volatilized and transported landward to the Gulf Coast States. It is important to determine the fate of these oil-derived compounds since their landward transport and inhalation may compromise human health. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one suite of organic compounds that have been used to fingerprint oil to identify its source. In this study, the relative abundance of 34 PAHs derived from the DWH spill were compared to those found in oil from natural seeps in the northern GOM and from various sources in the Santa Barbara Channel, CA. The PAH distributions of the DWH oil were also compared to PAH distributions in air and water samples collected from several coastal sites in the Gulf Coast States sampled in July, 2010 and July, 2011. Additionally, the distributions of PAHs in air and water samples were compared before and after passage of Tropical Storm (TS) Bonnie (2010) that traveled across the GOM in late July, 2010. Lastly, particulate organic carbon and black carbon (a combustion byproduct) were extracted from these air samples to provide more information on the sources of air masses in the region. The results from this study suggest that the DWH riser oil contained ~3,600 [mu]g g−1 of total PAHs and an average ~500 [mu]g g−1 of PAHs in the surface slick. Ambient level of PAHs in air and water collected from coastal areas of the GOM were similar between 2010 and 2011, despite the presence of the oil slick from the DWH spill. However, our results indicate that the marine-to-land transport vector was facilitated by passage of TS Bonnie across the DWH oil slick in July, 2010. For example, the total atmospheric PAH loading to window film (a passive air sampler) increased by a factor-of-fifty after the passage of the storm, and the TS Bonnie rainwater contained dissolved organic carbon with a 14C age of ~8,000 y BP. Together, these results suggest that marine-to-land atmospheric loading of organic carbon and contaminants may be important during tropical storms and hurricanes.

Atmospheric Distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Coastal Northern Gulf of Mexico, USA, Associated with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Atmospheric Distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Coastal Northern Gulf of Mexico, USA, Associated with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill PDF Author: Kimberly Scalise
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill, 2010
Languages : en
Pages : 116

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Book Description
The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill occurred April 20, 2010 to July 15, 2010, releasing a surface slick of crude oil extending to ~176,000 km2 in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Crude oil is comprised of thousands of organic compounds, many of which are toxic or carcinogenic. There is concern that some petroleum-derived toxic and carcinogenic hydrocarbons from the DWH spill may have volatilized and transported landward to the Gulf Coast States. It is important to determine the fate of these oil-derived compounds since their landward transport and inhalation may compromise human health. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one suite of organic compounds that have been used to fingerprint oil to identify its source. In this study, the relative abundance of 34 PAHs derived from the DWH spill were compared to those found in oil from natural seeps in the northern GOM and from various sources in the Santa Barbara Channel, CA. The PAH distributions of the DWH oil were also compared to PAH distributions in air and water samples collected from several coastal sites in the Gulf Coast States sampled in July, 2010 and July, 2011. Additionally, the distributions of PAHs in air and water samples were compared before and after passage of Tropical Storm (TS) Bonnie (2010) that traveled across the GOM in late July, 2010. Lastly, particulate organic carbon and black carbon (a combustion byproduct) were extracted from these air samples to provide more information on the sources of air masses in the region. The results from this study suggest that the DWH riser oil contained ~3,600 [mu]g g−1 of total PAHs and an average ~500 [mu]g g−1 of PAHs in the surface slick. Ambient level of PAHs in air and water collected from coastal areas of the GOM were similar between 2010 and 2011, despite the presence of the oil slick from the DWH spill. However, our results indicate that the marine-to-land transport vector was facilitated by passage of TS Bonnie across the DWH oil slick in July, 2010. For example, the total atmospheric PAH loading to window film (a passive air sampler) increased by a factor-of-fifty after the passage of the storm, and the TS Bonnie rainwater contained dissolved organic carbon with a 14C age of ~8,000 y BP. Together, these results suggest that marine-to-land atmospheric loading of organic carbon and contaminants may be important during tropical storms and hurricanes.

Gulf of mexico estuaries: Ecology of the nearshore and coastal ecosystems impacted by the deepwater horizon oil spill

Gulf of mexico estuaries: Ecology of the nearshore and coastal ecosystems impacted by the deepwater horizon oil spill PDF Author: Charles William Martin
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832524559
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 177

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Book Description


Deep Pelagic Ecosystem Dynamics in a Highly Impacted Water Column: The Gulf of Mexico After Deepwater Horizon

Deep Pelagic Ecosystem Dynamics in a Highly Impacted Water Column: The Gulf of Mexico After Deepwater Horizon PDF Author: Tracey T. Sutton
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889667162
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 197

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Book Description


Temporal and Spatial Assessment of PAHs in Water, Sediment, and Oysters as a Result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Temporal and Spatial Assessment of PAHs in Water, Sediment, and Oysters as a Result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill PDF Author: Meghan Dailey
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill, 2010
Languages : en
Pages : 306

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Book Description
On April 20, 2010, BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded leaking over 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico for 84 days. Exposure to oil-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water and sediment could severely impact the aquatic organisms inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico (i.e. developmental defects, reproductive effects, death, etc.). Therefore, water, sediment and oyster, Crassostrea virginica, samples were collected approximately bimonthly between May 26 and November 30, 2010 from multiple sites along the Gulf Coast, namely, two sites in Mobile Bay (Denton and Sand Reefs at 1 or 0.1 m above the bay floor), one site near Orange Beach, AL (Perdido), and one near Pointe aux Pines, MS. Water, sediment, and oysters were extracted for quantitation of 24 PAHs by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The concentration range for total PAHs (tPAH) in water was non-detectable to 1100 ng/L and non-detectable to 7450 ng/g for sediment. The highest water tPAH concentrations were observed on 6/28/10 for Sand (1 m), 7/21/10 for Denton (0.1 m), 9/9/10 for Perdido, and 9/22/10 for Pointe aux Pines. The highest sediment concentrations were observed on 9/20/10 for Denton Reef, 7/7/10 for Sand Reef, 7/28/10 for Perdido, and 9/22/10 for Pointe aux Pines. Twenty other sites along the northern Gulf coast collected less frequently also indicated relatively low (

Novel Insights into the Circulation, Biogeochemistry, and Ecosystem Function of the Gulf of Mexico: A Perspective from Mexican Waters in Support of Oil Spill Preparedness

Novel Insights into the Circulation, Biogeochemistry, and Ecosystem Function of the Gulf of Mexico: A Perspective from Mexican Waters in Support of Oil Spill Preparedness PDF Author: Maria Josefina Olascoaga
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832540287
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 259

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Book Description
In response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), and given the increased activities of the offshore oil industry, an international multidisciplinary consortium - the CIGOM Consortium - was funded by Mexico's Energy Secretariat (SENER) and its National Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT). Spanning 2015-2022, CIGOM's goals were to establish an environmental baseline to characterize the southern GOM’s natural variability and contribute to the understanding of ecosystem function, use cutting-edge technologies to observe the ocean, couple physical circulation and biogeochemical models to gain understating of oceanographic processes, generate oil spill scenarios using model ensembles and statistical techniques and conducting vulnerability assessments. Over 300 researchers participated in the CIGOM consortium's efforts.

The Use of Dispersants in Marine Oil Spill Response

The Use of Dispersants in Marine Oil Spill Response PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309478219
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 341

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Book Description
Whether the result of an oil well blowout, vessel collision or grounding, leaking pipeline, or other incident at sea, each marine oil spill will present unique circumstances and challenges. The oil type and properties, location, time of year, duration of spill, water depth, environmental conditions, affected biomes, potential human community impact, and available resources may vary significantly. Also, each spill may be governed by policy guidelines, such as those set forth in the National Response Plan, Regional Response Plans, or Area Contingency Plans. To respond effectively to the specific conditions presented during an oil spill, spill responders have used a variety of response optionsâ€"including mechanical recovery of oil using skimmers and booms, in situ burning of oil, monitored natural attenuation of oil, and dispersion of oil by chemical dispersants. Because each response method has advantages and disadvantages, it is important to understand specific scenarios where a net benefit may be achieved by using a particular tool or combination of tools. This report builds on two previous National Research Council reports on dispersant use to provide a current understanding of the state of science and to inform future marine oil spill response operations. The response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill included an unprecedented use of dispersants via both surface application and subsea injection. The magnitude of the spill stimulated interest and funding for research on oil spill response, and dispersant use in particular. This study assesses the effects and efficacy of dispersants as an oil spill response tool and evaluates trade-offs associated with dispersant use.

Assessing the Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Assessing the Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill PDF Author: Dennis A. Apeti
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill, 2010
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description
"NOAA's National Status and Trends Program (NS&T) collected oyster tissue and sediments for quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and petroleum associated metals before and after the landfall of oil from the Deepwater Horizon incident of 2010. These new pre- and post- landfall measurements were put into a historical context by comparing them to data collected in the region over three decades during Mussel Watch monitoring. Overall, the levels of PAHs in both sediment and oysters both pre- and post-landfall were within the range of historically observed values for the Gulf of Mexico. Some specific sites did have elevated PAH levels. While those locations generally correspond to areas in which oil reached coastal areas, it cannot be conclusively stated that the contamination is due to oiling from the Deepwater Horizon incident at these sites due to the survey nature of these sampling efforts. Instead, our data indicate locations along the coast where intensive investigation of hydrocarbon contamination should be undertaken. Post-spill concentrations of oil-related trace metals (V, Hg, Ni) were generally within historically observed ranges for a given site, however, nickel and vanadium were elevated at some sites including areas in Mississippi Sound and Galveston, Terrebonne, Mobile, Pensacola, and Apalachicola Bays. No oyster tissue metal body burden exceeded any of the United States Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) shellfish permissible action levels for human consumption"--Executive summary.

Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic

Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic PDF Author: Heidemarie Kassens
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642601340
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 850

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Book Description
The Arctic and its surrounding marginal seas are considered some of the most sensitive elements of the global environment, which may respond rapidly to climate change. However, due to various reasons, our knowledge of the processes which drive the Arctic system today and in the past is still relatively sparse. Based on a multidisciplinary approach, German and Russian scientists describe in this book the natural paleorecords and modern data which were collected over the past 6 years. These marine and terrestrial datasets provide important new insights into the causes, impacts, and feedback mechanisms of this extreme Arctic environment.

The metabolic pathways and environmental controls of hydrocarbon biodegradation in marine ecosystems

The metabolic pathways and environmental controls of hydrocarbon biodegradation in marine ecosystems PDF Author: Joel E. Kostka
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889193462
Category : Microbiology
Languages : en
Pages : 196

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Book Description
Biodegradation mediated by indigenous microbial communities is the ultimate fate of the majority of oil hydrocarbon that enters the marine environment. The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight recent advances in our knowledge of the pathways and controls of microbially-catalyzed hydrocarbon degradation in marine ecosystems, with emphasis on the response of microbial communities to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In this Research Topic, we encouraged original research and reviews on the ecology of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, the rates and mechanisms of biodegradation, and the bioremediation of discharged oil under situ as well as near in situ conditions.

Deep Oil Spills

Deep Oil Spills PDF Author: Steven A. Murawski
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3030116050
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 617

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Book Description
The demand for oil and gas has brought exploration and production to unprecedented depths of the world’s oceans. Currently, over 50% of the oil from the Gulf of Mexico now comes from waters in excess of 1,500 meters (one mile) deep, where no oil was produced just 20 years ago. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill blowout did much to change the perception of oil spills as coming just from tanker accidents, train derailments, and pipeline ruptures. In fact, beginning with the Ixtoc 1 spill off Campeche, Mexico in 1979-1980, there have been a series of large spill events originating at the sea bottom and creating a myriad of new environmental and well control challenges. This volume explores the physics, chemistry, sub-surface oil deposition and environmental impacts of deep oil spills. Key lessons learned from the responses to previous deep spills, as well as unresolved scientific questions for additional research are highlighted, all of which are appropriate for governmental regulators, politicians, industry decision-makers, first responders, researchers and students wanting an incisive overview of issues surrounding deep-water oil and gas production.