scholarly journals Impact of oil spill and posterior clean-up activities on wrack-living talitrid amphipods on estuarine beaches

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A. Borzone ◽  
Leonardo C. Rosa

A geomorphological and faunistic seasonal study of six estuarine beaches on Paranaguá Bay, Brazil, was abruptly interrupted when the Chilean ship "Vicuña" exploded and sank, spilling 291 tons of bunker fuel oil. The beaches sampled twice before the accident were affected by the oil spill deposition and the posterior clean-up activities. Neither drastic reduction in abundances nor occurrences of oil-covered individuals were registered. Significant variation in both amount of debris and talitrid amphipod densities was directly related to beach clean-up activities. A short (1-3 month) manual clean-up of polluted wrack resulted in an increase in talitrid abundances, with the local distribution expansion of one species, Platorchestia monodi, from three to six of the beaches sampled. The active migration and concentration of organisms at sites without wrack during cleaning activities and a massive and continuous recovery of new debris, characteristic of estuarine beaches, may contribute to the findings.

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 (1) ◽  
pp. 597-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Lunel ◽  
Louise Davies

ABSTRACT As a general “rule of thumb,” a dispersant response is not the most appropriate response to a spill of Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO)-380 bunker fuel oil However, as with all rules of thumb, there are some exceptions. There has been increasing evidence that a limited number of oil spill dispersants can be used on certain types of oil spill where previously dispersants would not have been considered. A new dispersant tested in field trials carried out by AEA Technology in 1997 (Lunel and Lewis, 1999), indicated that there might be an opportunity to treat viscous emulsions and bunker fuel oils by dispersant spraying. Following these field trials, AEA Technology undertook a number of laboratory-based studies, including tests in France during the first week of the Erika spill, which indicate that IFO-180 and IFO-380 bunker fuel oils may be dispersible under favorable conditions when fresh and when lightly emulsified. At present, the authors conclude that the rule of thumb—a dispersant response is not likely to be the most appropriate response to most spills of IFO-380—holds. However, the authors believe that there may be some conditions when a dispersant response can be considered as part of a response to a spill of IFO-380 to reduce the volume of oil beaching. It has been recognized by most experts dealing with this issue that a field trial is needed to establish the validity of this assertion. In the absence of a field trial, the authors believe that a dispersant response to IFO-380 can be considered providing that:The reduction of volume beaching will result in a significant net environmental or economic benefit.The sea temperature is 10°–15°C or greater.The dispersant to be used is COREXIT®9500, Dasic Slickgone LTSW, Inipol 90, or Superdispersant 25.The characteristics of the IFO-380 are known and have been assessed by an oil spill expert at the time of the spill.In situ monitoring is in place to assess whether the response is effective.


2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 559 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Goldsworthy ◽  
R. P. Gales ◽  
M. Giese ◽  
N. Brothers

The bulk ore carrier Iron Baron ran aground on Hebe Reef at the mouth of the Tamar River in northern Tasmania, Australia, on 10 July 1995. It released an estimated 325 tonnes of bunker fuel oil. Of the wildlife species affected, the most readily detected was the little penguin (Eudyptula minor); 1894 were collected and treated for oiling. This study estimates the impact of the oil spill on populations of little penguins. At Ninth Island (approximately 40 km from Hebe Reef), one of the most affected little penguin colonies, pre-oil-spill population estimates were available. Extensive regular trapping and mark–recapture of birds at this site during the course of the oil spill provided longitudinal data on oiling rates from a known population size. Using these data, we estimate that 19.6% of birds from Ninth Island were oiled and survived to come ashore. This represents about 526 (1932–3108, 95% CL) adult birds, or up to 5566 (4197–6917) birds in total (adults and juveniles). For estimates of the impact on little penguin populations in the region, we provide three scenarios of the possible numbers of penguins oiled. After considering the biases of each risk assessment, we believe that between 10 000 and 20 000 penguins were killed as a result of the oil spill. The study indicates that, despite the relatively small amount of oil spilt by the Iron Baron, the impact on penguin populations was extensive. This study also highlights the difficulties and requirements in assessing the impact of oil spills on wildlife populations.


2021 ◽  
pp. 117378
Author(s):  
Parisarin Nawavimarn ◽  
Witchaya Rongsayamanont ◽  
Tipsuda Subsanguan ◽  
Ekawan Luepromchai

1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 843-851
Author(s):  
Tadahiko Kurosawa ◽  
Mikio Honda ◽  
Kaname Tanaka ◽  
Eiichi Nakajima ◽  
Hiroshi Amatu

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 281-283
Author(s):  
Cassandra Richardson

ABSTRACT A fundamental problem exists with waste disposal in marine-based oil spill clean up, as up to ten times more waste can be generated than the actual oil spilled. Lessons learnt are rarely recognised until the clean up operation has finished and oiled waste has accumulated. In 1999 the oil tanker Erika broke in two and sank off the coast of Brittany, France. Spilling 20,000 tonnes of Heavy Fuel Oil but creating 250,000 tonnes of oiled waste. The Author, during the Prestige spill has observed first hand how the handling and disposal of oily waste can have major implications for oil clean up operations. It can hinder the entire operation by causing bottlenecks and delays in further recovery of oil, unless suitable arrangements can be made. The promotion of a holistic approach to waste management is fundamental to effective oil recovery operations and should be incorporated into oil spill contingency plans. The paper will highlight the importance of developing a proactive waste management strategy, emphasising good practice and the key issues involved. The paper is supported by existing reports, the author's practical experience and a published document, co-authored, on current waste disposal options for IPIECA's technical document series.


Author(s):  
Peter Foxton ◽  
Martin Heubeck

SynopsisA brief description is given of the accident to the tanker Esso Bernicia that resulted in the release of 1174 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the harbour at Sullom Voe. The measures taken to deal with the spill and the resulting oil pollution are described and their effectiveness assessed. Aspects of the environmental effects are considered with particular reference to birds, otters and sheep. Wide-ranging inquiries were made into the cause of the incident, the adequacy of the response, and the effects of the pollution. The actions that resulted are described. Finally the significance of the event is considered in relation to the subsequent development of oil spill contingency planning at Sullom Voe, and in the wider context of Shetland.


Author(s):  
Melanie Gorman Ng ◽  
John W Cherrie ◽  
Anne Sleeuwenhoek ◽  
Mark Stenzel ◽  
Richard K Kwok ◽  
...  

Abstract Tens of thousands of individuals performed oil spill response and clean-up (OSRC) activities following the ‘Deepwater Horizon’ oil drilling rig explosion in 2010. Many were exposed to oil residues and dispersants. The US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences assembled a cohort of nearly 33 000 workers to investigate potential adverse health effects of oil spill exposures. Estimates of dermal and inhalation exposure are required for those individuals. Ambient breathing-zone measurements taken at the time of the spill were used to estimate inhalation exposures for participants in the GuLF STUDY (Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study), but no dermal measurements were collected. Consequently, a modelling approach was used to estimate dermal exposures. We sought to modify DREAM (DeRmal Exposure Assessment Method) to optimize the model for assessing exposure to various oil spill-related substances and to incorporate advances in dermal exposure research. Each DREAM parameter was reviewed in the context of literature published since 2000 and modified where appropriate. To reflect the environment in which the OSRC work took place, the model treatment of evaporation was expanded to include vapour pressure and wind speed, and the effect of seawater on exposure was added. The modified model is called GuLF DREAM and exposure is estimated in GuLF DREAM units (GDU). An external validation to assess the performance of the model for oils, tars, and fuels was conducted using available published dermal wipe measurements of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and dermal hand wash measurements of asphalt. Overall, measured exposures had moderate correlations with GDU estimates (r = 0.59) with specific correlations of −0.48 for HFO and 0.68 for asphalt. The GuLF DREAM model described in this article has been used to generate dermal exposure estimates for the GuLF STUDY. Many of the updates made were generic, so the updated model may be useful for other dermal exposure scenarios.


1978 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 510-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Teal ◽  
Kathryn Burns ◽  
John Farrington

We have analyzed the two- and three-ring aromatic hydrocarbons from the Wild Harbor oil spill in September 1969 and the Winsor Cove oil spill in October 1974, in intertidal marsh sediments, using glass capillary gas-chromatographic and mass-fragmentographic analyses. Naphthalenes with 0–3 alkyl substitutions and phenanthrenes with 0–2 substitutions decreased in concentration with time in surface sediments. The more substituted aromatics decreased relatively less and in some cases actually increased in absolute concentration. The changes in composition of the aromatic fraction have potential consequences for the ecosystem and provide insight into geochemical processes of oil weathering. Key words: oil pollution, aromatic hydrocarbons; gas chromatography; gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; geochemistry; marsh; sediments; oil spills


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