Long-Term Effects of Crude Oil on Developing Fish: Lessons from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

ANCHORAGE, April 20—Sea otters rescued from waters fouled by the Exxon Valdez oil spill fared poorly after their return to the wild last fall, and scientists working under Government contract say at least half may have perished over the winter. Nearly 900 dead otters were found after the tanker spilled almost 11 million gallons of crude oil in March 1989. An additional 360 were netted alive and brought to rehabilitation centers at Valdez, Seward, Homer and Kodiak. About 200 were later returned to Prince William Sound but some scientists say that as many as half may have perished and that the rehabilitation effort has been largely futile... The withholding of scientific information on the spill for legal reasons by all the parties is becoming a major source of controversy as research projects begin to generate at least preliminary data.

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Long-Term Ecosystem Response to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Science ◽

10.1126/science.1084282 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 302 (5653) ◽

pp. 2082-2086 ◽

Cited By ~ 843

Author(s):

C. H. Peterson

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Ecosystem Response ◽

Exxon Valdez ◽

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

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Controlled Burning of Crude Oil on Water Following the Grounding Of the Exxon Valdez

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1991-1-213 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 1991 (1) ◽

pp. 213-216

Author(s):

Alan A. Allen

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Oil Spill ◽

North Slope ◽

Exxon Valdez ◽

In Situ Combustion ◽

Entire Area ◽

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ◽

Original Volume ◽

Controlled Burning

ABSTRACT During the evening of the second day following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 gallons (57,000 to 114,000 L) of North Slope crude oil were eliminated using in-situ combustion techniques. The oil was collected with the 3M Company's Fire Boom, towed in a U-shaped configuration behind two fishing boats. Working with 500-foot (152-m) tow lines, a 450-foot (137-m) boom was moved at about one-half to one knot (0.26 to 0.52 m/s) through slightly emulsified oil patches downwind of the spill. Once oil had filled the downstream portion of the U-shaped boom and the boats were clear of any surrounding slicks, a gelled-fuel igniter was released from one of the tow boats. Shortly after ignition, flames gradually spread out over the entire area of the contained oil. As flames reached 200 to 300 feet (61 to 91 m) into the air, the area of the contained oil layer (and therefore the size and intensity of the fire) could be controlled by adjusting the speed of the vessels. The total burn time was approximately 75 minutes; however, the intense part of the burn lasted for about 45 minutes. The original volume of oil, likely between 15,000 and 30,000 gallons, was reduced to approximately 300 gallons (1,136 L) of stiff, taffy-like burn residue that could be picked up easily upon completion of the burn. The controlled elimination of crude oil therefore resulted in an estimated 98 percent or better efficiency of burn.

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Long-Term Biological Damage: What is Known, and How Should that Influence Decisions on Response, Assessment, and Restoration?

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-2001-1-399 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 2001 (1) ◽

pp. 399-403 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mark G. Carls ◽

Ron Heintz ◽

Adam Moles ◽

Stanley D. Rice ◽

Jeffrey W. Short

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Environmental Cost ◽

Life Stages ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Exxon Valdez ◽

Damage Scenarios

ABSTRACT Immediate damage from an oil spill is usually obvious (oiled birds, oiled shoreline), but long-term damage to either fauna or habitat is more subtle, difficult to measure, difficult to evaluate, and hence often controversial. The question is, are too many of response decisions such as dispersant use or shoreline cleanup based on short-term acute toxicity models? Have long-term damage scenarios been discounted because of the inherent difficulty in deriving definitive answers? Experience with the Exxon Valdez oil spill is shedding new light on the potential for long-term damage. Government-funded studies demonstrated that oil persists in certain habitats for extended periods of time, such as the intertidal reaches of salmon streams, in soft sediments underlying mussel beds, and on cobble beaches armored with large boulders. Observation of long-term persistence of oil in some habitats is not new, but an increasing number of studies indicate that fauna may be chronically and significantly exposed to oil in these habitats. The toxic components in oil responsible for much of the long-term effects are believed to be the larger 3- and 4-ring polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that can induce cellular and genetic effects rather than the narcotic monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) responsible for acute mortalities. Observation of long-term persistence of Exxon Valdez oil, coupled with adverse effects on sensitive life stages, leads to the conclusion that strategies based on minimizing acute mortalities immediately following a spill probably do not provide adequate protection against long-term damage. When making environmental decisions in response to a spill (prevention measures or restoration measures), more weight should probably be given to long-term issues rather than discounting their significance. Total environmental cost is the sum of short-term damage and long-term damage, and long term-damage to habitats and sensitive life stages probably needs more consideration even though it is very difficult to evaluate and compare to the relatively obvious acute issues.

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