scholarly journals Anthropogenic effects on the marine environment adjacent to Palmer Station, Antarctica

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Terence A. Palmer ◽  
Andrew G. Klein ◽  
Stephen T. Sweet ◽  
Paul A. Montagna ◽  
Larry J. Hyde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Natural Sediment ◽  
Sewage Outfall ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Palmer Station ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Macrofaunal Community

Abstract Localized contamination from research-related activities and its effects on macrofauna communities in the marine environment were investigated at Palmer Station, a medium-sized Antarctic research station. Relatively low concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; 32–302 ng g-1) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs; 0.9–8.9 μg g-1) were detected in sediments adjacent to the sewage outfall and pier, where most human activities were expected to have occurred, and at even lower concentrations at two seemingly reference areas (PAHs 6–30 ng g-1, TPHs 0.03–5.1 μg g-1). Elevated concentrations of PAHs in one sample taken in one reference area (816 ng g-1) and polychlorinated biphenyls (353 ng g-1) and dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (3.2 and 25.3 ng g-1) in two samples taken adjacent to the sewage outfall indicate spatial heterogeneity of localized sediment contamination. Limpet (Nacella concinna) tissues collected adjacent to Palmer Station had high concentrations of PAHs, copper, lead, zinc and several other metals relative to outlying islands. Sediment and limpet tissue contaminant concentrations have decreased since the early 1990s following the Bahía Paraíso spill. Natural sediment characteristics affected macrofaunal community composition more than contamination adjacent to Palmer Station, presumably because of the low overall contamination levels.

scholarly journals Bioaugmentation of Native Fungi, an Efficient Strategy for the Bioremediation of an Aged Industrially Polluted Soil With Heavy Hydrocarbons

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Cecilia Medaura ◽  
Miriam Guivernau ◽  
X. Moreno-Ventas ◽  
Francesc X. Prenafeta-Boldú ◽  
Marc Viñas
Keyword(s):  
Vibrio Fischeri ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Polluted Soil ◽  
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽  
Hydrocarbon Biodegradation ◽  
Soil Bioremediation ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Native Fungi

The concurrence of structurally complex petroleum-associated contaminants at relatively high concentrations, with diverse climatic conditions and textural soil characteristics, hinders conventional bioremediation processes. Recalcitrant compounds such as high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HMW-PAHs) and heavy alkanes commonly remain after standard soil bioremediation at concentrations above regulatory limits. The present study assessed the potential of native fungal bioaugmentation as a strategy to promote the bioremediation of an aged industrially polluted soil enriched with heavy hydrocarbon fractions. Microcosms assays were performed by means of biostimulation and bioaugmentation, by inoculating a defined consortium of six potentially hydrocarbonoclastic fungi belonging to the genera Penicillium, Ulocladium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium, which were isolated previously from the polluted soil. The biodegradation performance of fungal bioaugmentation was compared with soil biostimulation (water and nutrient addition) and with untreated soil as a control. Fungal bioaugmentation resulted in a higher biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and of HMW-PAHs than with biostimulation. TPH (C14-C35) decreased by a 39.90 ± 1.99% in bioaugmented microcosms vs. a 24.17 ± 1.31% in biostimulated microcosms. As for the effect of fungal bioaugmentation on HMW-PAHs, the 5-ringed benzo(a)fluoranthene and benzo(a)pyrene were reduced by a 36% and 46%, respectively, while the 6-ringed benzoperylene decreased by a 28%, after 120 days of treatment. Biostimulated microcosm exhibited a significantly lower reduction of 5- and 6-ringed PAHs (8% and 5% respectively). Higher TPH and HMW-PAHs biodegradation levels in bioaugmented microcosms were also associated to a significant decrease in acute ecotoxicity (EC50) by Vibrio fischeri bioluminiscence inhibition assays. Molecular profiling and counting of viable hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from soil microcosms revealed that fungal bioaugmentation promoted the growth of autochthonous active hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria. The implementation of such an approach to enhance hydrocarbon biodegradation should be considered as a novel bioremediation strategy for the treatment of the most recalcitrant and highly genotoxic hydrocarbons in aged industrially polluted soils.

Potential Contribution of Nutrients and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from the Creeks of Cootes Paradise Marsh

1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Chow-Fraser ◽  
Barb Crosbie ◽  
Douglas Bryant ◽  
Brian McCarry
Keyword(s):  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Engine Combustion ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Derivatives Of

Abstract During the summer of 1994, we compared the physical and nutrient characteristics of the three main tributaries of Cootes Paradise: Spencer, Chedoke and Borer’s creeks. On all sampling occasions, concentrations of CHL α and nutrients were always lowest in Borer’s Creek and highest in Chedoke Creek. There were generally 10-fold higher CHL α concentrations and 2 to 10 times higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in Chedoke Creek compared with Spencer Creek. Despite this, the light environment did not differ significantly between Spencer and Chedoke creeks because the low algal biomass in Spencer Creek was balanced by a relatively high loading of inorganic sediments from the watershed. Laboratory experiments indicated that sediments from Chedoke Creek released up to 10 µg/g of soluble phosphorus per gram (dry weight) of sediment, compared with only 2 µg/g from Spencer Creek. By contrast, sediment samples from Spencer Creek contained levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that were as high as or higher than those from Chedoke Creek, and much higher than those found in Borer’s Creek. The distribution of normalized PAH concentrations suggests a common source of PAHs in all three tributaries, most likely automobile exhaust, since there were high concentrations of fluoranthene and pyrene, both of which are derivatives of engine combustion.

scholarly journals Environmental DNA preserved in marine sediment for detecting jellyfish blooms after a tsunami

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mizuki Ogata ◽  
Reiji Masuda ◽  
Hiroya Harino ◽  
Masayuki K. Sakata ◽  
Makoto Hatakeyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Sediment ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Environmental Dna ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Tank Experiment ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
One Year

AbstractEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) can be a powerful tool for detecting the distribution and abundance of target species. This study aimed to test the longevity of eDNA in marine sediment through a tank experiment and to use this information to reconstruct past faunal occurrence. In the tank experiment, juvenile jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) were kept in flow-through tanks with marine sediment for two weeks. Water and sediment samples from the tanks were collected after the removal of fish. In the field trial, sediment cores were collected in Moune Bay, northeast Japan, where unusual blooms of jellyfish (Aurelia sp.) occurred after a tsunami. The samples were analyzed by layers to detect the eDNA of jellyfish. The tank experiment revealed that after fish were removed, eDNA was not present in the water the next day, or subsequently, whereas eDNA was detectable in the sediment for 12 months. In the sediment core samples, jellyfish eDNA was detected at high concentrations above the layer with the highest content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, reflecting tsunami-induced oil spills. Thus, marine sediment eDNA preserves a record of target species for at least one year and can be used to reconstruct past faunal occurrence.

scholarly journals Insights into Bacterial Community Involved in Bioremediation of Aged Oil-Contaminated Soil in Arid Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 117693432110168
Author(s):  
Rita Rahmeh ◽  
Abrar Akbar ◽  
Vinod Kumar ◽  
Hamad Al-Mansour ◽  
Mohamed Kishk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spills ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽  
Microbial Consortia ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Taxonomic Profiling ◽  
Degradation Pattern ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Global Concern

Soil contamination by hydrocarbons due to oil spills has become a global concern and it has more implications in oil producing regions. Biostimulation is considered as one of the promising remediation techniques that can be adopted to enhance the rate of degradation of crude oil. The soil microbial consortia play a critical role in governing the biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), in particular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study, the degradation pattern of TPHs and PAHs of Kuwait soil biopiles was measured at three-month intervals. Then, the microbial consortium associated with oil degradation at each interval was revealed through 16S rRNA based next generation sequencing. Rapid degradation of TPHs and most of the PAHs was noticed at the first 3 months of biostimulation with a degradation rate of pyrene significantly higher compared to other PAHs counterparts. The taxonomic profiling of individual stages of remediation revealed that, biostimulation of the investigated soil favored the growth of Proteobacteria, Alphaprotobacteria, Chloroflexi, Chlorobi, and Acidobacteria groups. These findings provide a key step towards the restoration of oil-contaminated lands in the arid environment.

scholarly journals Fate of hydrocarbon pollutants in source and non-source control sustainable drainage systems

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 703-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios Roinas ◽  
Cath Mant ◽  
John B. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽  
Source Control ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Pollutant Loads ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Local Roads ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Sustainable drainage (SuDs) is an established method for managing runoff from developments, and source control is part of accepted design philosophy. However, there are limited studies into the contribution source control makes to pollutant removal, especially for roads. This study examines organic pollutants, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in paired source and non-source control full-scale SuDs systems. Sites were selected to cover local roads, trunk roads and housing developments, with a range of SuDs, including porous asphalt, swales, detention basins and ponds. Soil and water samples were taken bi-monthly over 12 months to assess pollutant loads. Results show first flush patterns in storm events for solids, but not for TPH. The patterns of removal for specific PAHs were also different, reflecting varying physico-chemical properties. The potential of trunk roads for pollution was illustrated by peak runoff for TPH of > 17,000 μg/l. Overall there was no significant difference between pollutant loads from source and non-source control systems, but the dynamic nature of runoff means that longer-term data are required. The outcomes of this project will increase understanding of organic pollutants behaviour in SuDs. This will provide design guidance about the most appropriate systems for treating these pollutants.

scholarly journals Bioremediation of clayey soil contaminated with crude oil: comparison of dynamic and static biopiles in lab-scale

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Antonio Lopes ◽  
Graciane Silva ◽  
Marcia Marques ◽  
Sérgio Machado Correa
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Organic Contaminants ◽  
Clayey Soil ◽  
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽  
Oil Composition ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Forced Aeration ◽  
Total Fungi ◽  
Technological Options

Bioremediation of aged and newly clayey soil contaminated with crude oil was investigated in lab-scale using two different strategies (biostimulation-BIOS and bioaugmentation-BIOA), also simulating two different technological options: dynamic biopile (M) and static biopile with forced aeration (B). The inoculum used for bioaugmentation was obtained from the aged contaminated soil. The treatments were performed in triplicates and included one control (original contaminated soil-CONT). The treatments were monitored with soil sampling obtained after 0, 24, 59 and 121 days when the populations of total heterotrophic microorganism (THM), total fungi (TF), and oil-degrading microorganism (ODM) as well as the extracted total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and the 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) prioritized by U.S. EPA were analyzed by gas chromatography. It was observed a trend for reduction of the microbial population density from 0 to 121 days. As expected, the population densities of THM and ODM were much higher in bio-augmented soils in both technologies (BIOA-m and BIOA-b) at day 0. However, after 121 days, the superiority in THM density was observed only in the bioreactor simulating static biopile with forced aeration (BIOA-b). Regarding treatment efficiency, the static biopile with forced aeration performed better in the removal of TPH when associated with bioaugmentation (BIOA-b), being equivalent to the microcosms (simulating dynamic biopile) for the other treatments (CONT and BIOS). For PAH, the superiority of the bioreactor was less conspicuous but observed in both bioremediation strategies (biostimulation BIOS-b and bioaugmentation BIOA-b). The results suggested that regarding TPH, the strategy of bioaugmentation was superior to biostimulation and that the bioreactor (simulating static biopile with forced aeration) reached better contaminant reductions than the microcosm (simulating dynamic biopile). Clayey soil contaminated with crude oil poses big challenges for the bioremediation, due to the texture of the soil favouring adsorption of organic contaminants and due to the complex crude oil composition. The bioprocesses are slow, cleavage of larger molecules are likely to generate smaller hydrocarbons and therefore the elimination of the toxicity is very slow, which may require longer periods and auxiliary tools, such as surfactants.

scholarly journals In Situ Miniaturised Solid Phase Extraction (m-SPE) for Organic Pollutants in Seawater Samples

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Abaroa-Pérez ◽  
G. Sánchez-Almeida ◽  
J. J. Hernández-Brito ◽  
D. Vega-Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Solid Phase Extraction ◽  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Phase Extraction ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Seawater Samples

Solid phase extraction (SPE) is a consolidated technique for determining pollutants in seawater samples. The current tendency is to miniaturise systems that extract and determine pollutants in the environment, reducing the use of organic solvents, while maintaining the quality in the extraction and preconcentration. On the other hand, there is a need to develop new extraction systems that can be fitted to in situ continual monitoring buoys, especially for the marine environment. This work has developed a first model of a low-pressure micro-SPE (m-SPE) for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that can be simply applied to in situ monitoring in the marine environment. This system reduces the volumes of sample and solvents required in the laboratory in comparison with conventional SPE. In the future, it could be used in automated or robotic systems in marine technologies such as marine gliders and oceanographic buoys. This system has been optimised and validated to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in seawater samples, but it could also be applied to other kinds of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and emerging pollutants.

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