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Chen Z, Yang Z, Lee K, Lu Y. Managing deepsea oil spills through a systematic modeling approach. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 360:121118. [PMID: 38759562 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Offshore oil exploration and production in deepwater are associated with environmental risks to marine ecosystems. This research introduces DWOSM (Deep Water Oil Spill Model), a three-dimensional Lagrangian model, which is developed to simulate the transport and fate of oil spills resulting from subsea blowouts. DWOSM comprises three interconnected modules: DWOSM-DSD, which predicts the oil droplet size distribution from a blowout release; DWOSM-NearField, simulating plume dynamics and tracking oil droplets within the plume region; and DWOSM-FarField, modeling the evolution of dispersed oil beyond the near-field. Compared to other oil spill models, this integrated approach improves the transition between near and far fields using a near-field particle tracking algorithm. It also employs the thermodynamic models to enable the prediction of oil properties under varying deep water pressure and temperature. To gauge the reliability and efficacy of DWOSM, a hypothetical case situated within a North American context is employed for model testing. The DWOSM and its each module are juxtaposed with other established oil spill models. The outcomes indicate that DWOSM yields comparable results to these models by providing reasonable predictions of a deepwater blowout. The model's verification through case scenario testing and comparison underscores its potential as a decision tool for assessing and managing the potential environmental impacts of offshore petroleum activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Chen
- Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1M8.
| | - Zhaoyang Yang
- Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1M8
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Ecosystem Science, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 200 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1C 0E6
| | - Youyu Lu
- Ocean Modelling and Monitoring Section, Ocean and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2Y 4A2
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2
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French-McCay DP, Robinson HJ, Adams JE, Frediani MA, Murphy MJ, Morse C, Gloekler M, Parkerton TF. Parsing the toxicity paradox: Composition and duration of exposure alter predicted oil spill effects by orders of magnitude. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 202:116285. [PMID: 38555802 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Oil spilled into an aquatic environment produces oil droplet and dissolved component concentrations and compositions that are highly variable in space and time. Toxic effects on aquatic biota vary with sensitivity of the organism, concentration, composition, environmental conditions, and frequency and duration of exposure to the mixture of oil-derived dissolved compounds. For a range of spill (surface, subsea, blowout) and oil types under different environmental conditions, modeling of oil transport, fate, and organism behavior was used to quantify expected exposures over time for planktonic, motile, and stationary organisms. Different toxicity models were applied to these exposure time histories to characterize the influential roles of composition, concentration, and duration of exposure on aquatic toxicity. Misrepresenting these roles and exposures can affect results by orders of magnitude. Well-characterized laboratory studies for <24-hour exposures are needed to improve toxicity predictions of the typically short-term exposures that characterize spills.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Julie E Adams
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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3
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Charalampous G, Fragkou E, Kalogerakis N, Antoniou E, Gontikaki E. Diversity links to functionality: Unraveling the impact of pressure disruption and culture medium on crude oil-enriched microbial communities from the deep Eastern Mediterranean Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 202:116275. [PMID: 38564821 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Mesopelagic water from the deep Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) was collected under disrupted (REPRESS) or undisturbed (HP) pressure conditions and was acclimated to oil (OIL) or dispersed-oil (DISPOIL) under in situ pressure and temperature (10 MPa, 14 °C). Decompression resulted in oil-acclimatised microbial communities of lower diversity despite the restoration of in situ pressure conditions during the 1-week incubation. Further biodiversity loss was observed when oil-acclimatised communities were transferred to ONR7 medium to facilitate the isolation of oil-degrading bacteria. Microbial diversity loss impacted the degradation of recalcitrant oil compounds, especially PAHs, as low-abundance taxa, linked with PAH degradation, were outcompeted in the enrichment process. Thalassomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Halomonas and Alcanivorax were enriched in ONR7 under all experimental conditions. No effect of dispersant application on the microbial community structure was identified. A. venustensis was isolated under all tested conditions suggesting a potential key role of this species in hydrocarbons removal in the deep EMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Charalampous
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece; Institute of Geoenergy, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Chania, Greece.
| | - Efsevia Fragkou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece; Institute of Geoenergy, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Chania, Greece
| | - Nicolas Kalogerakis
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece; Institute of Geoenergy, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Chania, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Antoniou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece; School of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | - Evangelia Gontikaki
- Institute of Geoenergy, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Chania, Greece.
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4
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Baguley JG, Rostami MA, Baldrighi E, Bang HW, Dyer LA, Montagna PA. Harpacticoid copepods expand the scope and provide family-level indicators of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill deep-sea impacts. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 202:116343. [PMID: 38626636 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout and oil spill began on April 20, 2010 in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM) deep sea (1525 m). Previous studies documented an impacted area of deep-sea floor totaling 321 km2 and were based on taxonomy at the macrofauna family level and the meiofauna major taxonomic level. In the present study, finer taxonomic resolution of the meiofauna community was employed, specifically harpacticoid copepod family biodiversity. Severe or moderate impacts to harpacticoid family biodiversity were observed at 35 of 95 sampling stations, covering an estimated area of 2864 km2, 8.9 times greater impacted area than previously reported. Sensitive and tolerant harpacticoid families were observed in the impact zone. The present study greatly expands the understanding of DWH deep-sea impacts in 2010 and demonstrates that the harpacticoid family-level response is the most sensitive indicator (reported to date) of this oil spill pollution event.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masoud A Rostami
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA; Department of Data Science, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Elisa Baldrighi
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Hyun Woo Bang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mokwon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Lee A Dyer
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Paul A Montagna
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States of America
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5
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Podgorski DC, Walley J, Shields MP, Hebert D, Harsha ML, Spencer RGM, Tarr MA, Zito P. Dispersant-enhanced photodissolution of macondo crude oil: A molecular perspective. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132558. [PMID: 37729707 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Previous laboratory studies developed a conceptual model based on elevated non-volatile dissolved organic carbon (NVDOC) concentrations after photodegradation and subsequent dissolution of Macondo oil following the Deepwater Horizon blowout. However, those experiments did not account for the effects of ∼1 million gallons of dispersant applied to the surface oil. Here, laboratory results show photodissolution in the presence of dispersant results in > 2x increase in NVDOC concentrations after extensive photoprocessing relative to oil without dispersant. This result corresponds with an apparent increase in the percentage of surface oil photodissolution from approximately 4% in the absence of dispersant to 7% in the presence of dispersant. The oil and dissolved products were analyzed by excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry. The compounds that persisted in the oil phase are relatively aromatic without dispersant, while those in the presence of dispersant are highly aliphatic, paraffinic, wax-like compounds. The composition of the dissolved compounds produced from both treatment types are nearly identical after 240 h of exposure to simulated sunlight. The NVDOC and chemical composition information indicate that the photodissolution of MC252 oil in the presence of dispersant is enhanced and accelerated, suggesting that the effects of dispersants should be included in mass transfer calculations from the oil to the aqueous phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Podgorski
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148, United States; Chemical Analysis & Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148, United States; Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, Shea Penland Coastal Education and Research Facility, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148, United States.
| | - Jacob Walley
- Department of Natural Sciences, Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, NC 28017, United States
| | - Matthew P Shields
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148, United States
| | - Deja Hebert
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148, United States
| | - Maxwell L Harsha
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148, United States
| | - Robert G M Spencer
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Geochemistry Group, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Florida State University, 1800 East Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32310, United States
| | - Matthew A Tarr
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148, United States
| | - Phoebe Zito
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148, United States; Chemical Analysis & Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148, United States
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6
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Geng X, Barker CH, MacFadyen A, Boufadel MC, Thrift-Viveros DL, Jones RK, O'Connor C, Lee K. A generic approach to construct pseudo components for oil weathering models. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132160. [PMID: 37562351 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Oil weathering models are essential for predicting the behavior of spilled oil in the environment. Most models use a "Pseudo Component" (PC) approach to represent the wide range of compounds found in petroleum products. Within the approach, rather than modeling each individual compound in an oil, a manageable number of PCs are developed that represent whole classes of compounds. However, previous studies focused mainly on traditional crude oils and did not develop a generic approach to create an optimal set of PCs for a variety of oils. In developing the updates to the NOAA oil weathering model, we propose herein a generic approach to construct PCs using oil distillation data to capture the complexity of oil evaporative weathering. We validated our approach with 899 oils from the Automated Data Inquiry for Oil Spills (ADIOS) oil library and found that an optimal set of sixteen PCs should be used. These PCs include two with low boiling point (below 144 °C), one with a high boiling point (above 400 °C), and thirteen constructed within a middle range of boiling points with a temperature resolution of 20 °C. Our simulation tests suggested that this set of sixteen PCs adequately characterizes oil evaporation processes for a wide variety of oils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Geng
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA; Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
| | - Christopher H Barker
- Office of Response and Restoration, Emergency Response Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98133, USA
| | - Amy MacFadyen
- Office of Response and Restoration, Emergency Response Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98133, USA
| | - Michel C Boufadel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Dalina L Thrift-Viveros
- Office of Response and Restoration, Emergency Response Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98133, USA
| | - Robert K Jones
- Office of Response and Restoration, Emergency Response Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98133, USA
| | - Caitlin O'Connor
- Office of Response and Restoration, Emergency Response Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98133, USA
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2YA2, Canada
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7
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Freeman DH, Niles SF, Rodgers RP, French-McCay DP, Longnecker K, Reddy CM, Ward CP. Hot and Cold: Photochemical Weathering Mediates Oil Properties and Fate Differently Depending on Seawater Temperature. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:11988-11998. [PMID: 37515555 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Photochemical weathering transforms petroleum oil and changes its bulk physical properties, as well as its partitioning into seawater. This transformation process is likely to occur in a cold water marine oil spill, but little is known about the behavior of photochemically weathered oil in cold water. We quantified the effect of photochemical weathering on oil properties and partitioning across temperatures. Compared to weathering in the dark, photochemical weathering increases oil viscosity and water-soluble content, decreases oil-seawater interfacial tension, and slightly increases density. Many of these photochemical changes are much larger than changes caused by evaporative weathering. Further, the viscosity and water-soluble content of photochemically weathered oil are more temperature-sensitive compared to evaporatively weathered oil, which changes the importance of key fate processes in warm versus cold environments. Compared to at 30 °C, photochemically weathered oil at 5 °C would have a 16× higher viscosity and a 7× lower water-soluble content, resulting in lower entrainment and dissolution. Collectively, the physical properties and thus fate of photochemically weathered oil in a cold water spill may be substantially different from those in a warm water spill. These differences could affect the choice of oil spill response options in cold, high-light environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Haas Freeman
- MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science & Engineering, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Sydney F Niles
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, 1800 East Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, United States
| | - Ryan P Rodgers
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, 1800 East Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, United States
| | | | - Krista Longnecker
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Christopher M Reddy
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Collin P Ward
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
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8
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Brinkman DL, Flores F, Luter HM, Nordborg FM, Brooks M, Parkerton TF, Negri AP. Sensitivity of the Indo-Pacific coral Acropora millepora to aromatic hydrocarbons. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023:121963. [PMID: 37286027 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The risks posed by petroleum spills to coral reefs are poorly understood and quantifying acute toxicity thresholds for aromatic hydrocarbons to reef-building corals is required to assess their sensitivity relative to other taxa. In this study, we exposed Acropora millepora to toluene, naphthalene and 1-methylnaphthalene (1-MN) in a flow-through system and assessed survivorship and sublethal responses including growth, colour and the photosynthetic performance of symbionts. Median 50% lethal concentrations (LC50s) decreased over the 7-d exposure period, reaching asymptotic values of 22,921, 5,268, 1167 μg L-1 for toluene, naphthalene and 1-MN, respectively. Corresponding toxicokinetic parameters (εLC50) defining the time progression of toxicity were 0.830, 0.692, and 0.256 d-1, respectively. Latent effects after an additional 7-d recovery in uncontaminated seawater were not observed. Effect concentrations (EC50s) for 50% growth inhibition were 1.9- to 3.6-fold lower than the LC50s for each aromatic hydrocarbon. There were no observed effects of aromatic hydrocarbon exposure on colour score (a proxy for bleaching) or photosynthetic efficiency. Acute and chronic critical target lipid body burdens (CTLBBs) of 70.3 ± 16.3 and 13.6 ± 18.4 μmol g-1 octanol (± standard error) were calculated for survival and growth inhibition based on 7-d LC50 and EC10 values, respectively. These species-specific constants indicate adult A. millepora is more sensitive than other corals reported so far but is of average sensitivity in comparison with other aquatic taxa in the target lipid model database. These results advance our understanding of acute hazards of petroleum contaminants to key habitat-building tropical coral reef species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane L Brinkman
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia.
| | - Florita Flores
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - Heidi M Luter
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - F Mikaela Nordborg
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Division of Research & Innovation, James Cook University and Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia; James Cook University, College of Science & Engineering, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | - Maxime Brooks
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Division of Research & Innovation, James Cook University and Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia; James Cook University, College of Science & Engineering, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | | | - Andrew P Negri
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Division of Research & Innovation, James Cook University and Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
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9
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Dettman HD, Wade TL, French-McCay DP, Bejarano AC, Hollebone BP, Faksness LG, Mirnaghi FS, Yang Z, Loughery J, Pretorius T, de Jourdan B. Recommendations for the advancement of oil-in-water media and source oil characterization in aquatic toxicity test studies. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 261:106582. [PMID: 37369158 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
During toxicity testing, chemical analyses of oil and exposure media samples are needed to allow comparison of results between different tests as well as to assist with identification of the drivers and mechanisms for the toxic effects observed. However, to maximize the ability to compare results between different laboratories and biota, it has long been recognized that guidelines for standard protocols were needed. In 2005, the Chemical Response to Oil Spills: Ecological Effects Research Forum (CROSERF) protocol was developed with existing common analytical methods that described a standard method for reproducible preparation of exposure media as well as recommended specific analytical methods and analyte lists for comparative toxicity testing. At the time, the primary purpose for the data collected was to inform oil spill response and contingency planning. Since then, with improvements in both analytical equipment and methods, the use of toxicity data has expanded to include their integration into fate and effect models that aim to extend the applicability of lab-based study results to make predictions for field system-level impacts. This paper focuses on providing a summary of current chemical analyses for characterization of oil and exposure media used during aquatic toxicity testing and makes recommendations for the minimum analyses needed to allow for interpretation and modeling purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Terry L Wade
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | | | | | - Bruce P Hollebone
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Emergency Sciences and Technology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Fatemeh S Mirnaghi
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Emergency Sciences and Technology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zeyu Yang
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Emergency Sciences and Technology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Stubblefield WA, Barron M, Bragin G, DeLorenzo ME, de Jourdan B, Echols B, French-McCay DP, Jackman P, Loughery JR, Parkerton TF, Renegar DA, Rodriguez-Gil JL. Improving the design and conduct of aquatic toxicity studies with oils based on 20 years of CROSERF experience. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 261:106579. [PMID: 37300923 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory toxicity testing is a key tool used in oil spill science, spill effects assessment, and mitigation strategy decisions to minimize environmental impacts. A major consideration in oil toxicity testing is how to replicate real-world spill conditions, oil types, weathering states, receptor organisms, and modifying environmental factors under laboratory conditions. Oils and petroleum-derived products are comprised of thousands of compounds with different physicochemical and toxicological properties, and this leads to challenges in conducting and interpreting oil toxicity studies. Experimental methods used to mix oils with aqueous test media have been shown to influence the aqueous-phase hydrocarbon composition and concentrations, hydrocarbon phase distribution (i.e., dissolved phase versus in oil droplets), and the stability of oil:water solutions which, in turn, influence the bioavailability and toxicity of the oil containing media. Studies have shown that differences in experimental methods can lead to divergent test results. Therefore, it is imperative to standardize the methods used to prepare oil:water solutions in order to improve the realism and comparability of laboratory tests. The CROSERF methodology, originally published in 2005, was developed as a standardized method to prepare oil:water solutions for testing and evaluating dispersants and dispersed oil. However, it was found equally applicable for use in testing oil-derived petroleum substances. The goals of the current effort were to: (1) build upon two decades of experience to update existing CROSERF guidance for conducting aquatic toxicity tests and (2) to improve the design of laboratory toxicity studies for use in hazard evaluation and development of quantitative effects models that can then be applied in spill assessment. Key experimental design considerations discussed include species selection (standard vs field collected), test substance (single compound vs whole oil), exposure regime (static vs flow-through) and duration, exposure metrics, toxicity endpoints, and quality assurance and control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Barron
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (retired), USA
| | - G Bragin
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., USA
| | - M E DeLorenzo
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USA
| | - B de Jourdan
- Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - B Echols
- Environmental Toxicology Associates LLC, USA
| | | | - P Jackman
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (retired), Canada
| | - J R Loughery
- Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada
| | | | | | - J L Rodriguez-Gil
- International Institute for Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), Canada
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11
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Svejkovsky J, Hess M, Muskat J, White J. Aerial remote sensing of sub-sea dispersant injection effects during the Deepwater Horizon (MC-252) oil spill. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114958. [PMID: 37087827 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, subsea dispersant injection (SSDI) was utilized for the first time in an effort to reduce the amount of oil reaching the sea surface and thus potentially decrease its environmental impact and enhance responders' safety. Since then, controversy has developed about SSDI's effectiveness. Most of the analysis is based on modeling, with some models concluding SSDI significantly reduced surfacing oil volumes, and others predicting that processes unrelated to the dispersant caused most of the subsurface oil retention. This study utilized a multispectral aerial sensor image time series to correlate the surface area covered by freshly upwelled oil with changes in SSDI rates, accounting for an approximate 4 hour oil rise time lag. A significant negative correlation was found between oil-covered surface area and SSDI rates, providing direct observation support that the technique did reduce the amount of surfacing oil around the wellhead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Svejkovsky
- Ocean Imaging Corp., 13976 West Bowles Ave, Suite 100, Littleton, CO 80127, USA.
| | - Mark Hess
- Ocean Imaging Corporation, Littleton, CO, USA
| | - Judd Muskat
- Office of Spill Prevention and Response, California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - James White
- Ocean Imaging Corporation, Littleton, CO, USA
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12
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French-McCay DP, Parkerton TF, de Jourdan B. Bridging the lab to field divide: Advancing oil spill biological effects models requires revisiting aquatic toxicity testing. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 256:106389. [PMID: 36702035 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Oil fate and exposure modeling addresses the complexities of oil composition, weathering, partitioning in the environment, and the distributions and behaviors of aquatic biota to estimate exposure histories, i.e., oil component concentrations and environmental conditions experienced over time. Several approaches with increasing levels of complexity (i.e., aquatic toxicity model tiers, corresponding to varying purposes and applications) have been and continue to be developed to predict adverse effects resulting from these exposures. At Tiers 1 and 2, toxicity-based screening thresholds for assumed representative oil component compositions are used to inform spill response and risk evaluations, requiring limited toxicity data, analytical oil characterizations, and computer resources. Concentration-response relationships are employed in Tier 3 to quantify effects of assumed oil component mixture compositions. Oil spill modeling capabilities presently allow predictions of spatial and temporal compositional changes during exposure, which support mixture-based modeling frameworks. Such approaches rely on summed effects of components using toxic units to enable more realistic analyses (Tier 4). This review provides guidance for toxicological studies to inform the development of, provide input to, and validate Tier 4 aquatic toxicity models for assessing oil spill effects on aquatic biota. Evaluation of organisms' exposure histories using a toxic unit model reflects the current state-of the-science and provides an improved approach for quantifying effects of oil constituents on aquatic organisms. Since the mixture compositions in toxicity tests are not representative of field exposures, modelers rely on studies using single compounds to build toxicity models accounting for the additive effects of dynamic mixture exposures that occur after spills. Single compound toxicity data are needed to quantify the influence of exposure duration and modifying environmental factors (e.g., temperature, light) on observed effects for advancing use of this framework. Well-characterized whole oil bioassay data should be used to validate and refine these models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah P French-McCay
- RPS Ocean Science, 55 Village Square Drive, South Kingstown, Rhode Island 02879, United States.
| | - Thomas F Parkerton
- EnviSci Consulting, LLC, 5900 Balcones Dr, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 77433, United States
| | - Benjamin de Jourdan
- Huntsman Marine Science Centre, 1 Lower Campus Rd, St. Andrews, New Brunswick E5B 2L7, Canada
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Ji W, Abou-Khalil C, Parameswarappa Jayalakshmamma M, Boufadel M, Lee K. Post-Formation of Oil Particle Aggregates: Breakup and Biodegradation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:2341-2350. [PMID: 36723450 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Spilled oil slicks are likely to break into droplets in the subtidal and intertidal zones of seashores due to wave energy. The nonliving suspended fine particles in coastal ecosystems can interact with the dispersed oil droplets, resulting in the formation of Oil Particle Aggregates (OPAs). Many investigations assumed that these aggregates will settle due to the particles' high density. Recent studies, however, reported that some particles penetrate the oil droplets, which results in further breakup while forming smaller OPAs that remain suspended in the water column. Here, we investigated the interaction of crude oil droplets with intertidal and subtidal sediments, as well as artificial pure kaolinite, in natural seawater. Results showed that the interaction between oil droplets and intertidal sediments was not particularly stable, with an Oil Trapping Efficiency (OTE) < 25%. When using subtidal sediments, OTE reached 56%. With artificial kaolinite, OPA formation and breakup were more significant (OTE reaching up to 67%) and occurred faster (within 12 h). Oil chemistry analysis showed that the biodegradation of oil in seawater (half-life of 485 h) was significantly enhanced with the addition of sediments, with half-lives of 305, 265, and 150 h when adding intertidal sediments, subtidal sediments, and pure kaolinite, respectively. Such results reveal how the sediments' shape and size affect the various oil-sediment interaction mechanisms, and the subsequent impact on the microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Future studies should consider investigating the application of fine (several microns) and sharp (elongated-sheeted) sediments as a nondestructive and nontoxic technique for dispersing marine oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Ji
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 323 MLK Blvd., Newark, New Jersey07102, United States
| | - Charbel Abou-Khalil
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 323 MLK Blvd., Newark, New Jersey07102, United States
| | - Meghana Parameswarappa Jayalakshmamma
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 323 MLK Blvd., Newark, New Jersey07102, United States
| | - Michel Boufadel
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 323 MLK Blvd., Newark, New Jersey07102, United States
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Dartmouth, NSB2Y 4A2, Canada
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Socolofsky SA, Jun I, Boufadel MC, Liu R, Lu Y, Arey JS, McFarlin KM. Development of an offshore response guidance tool for determining the impact of SSDI on released gas and benzene from artificial subsea oil well blowout simulations. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 184:114114. [PMID: 36148742 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We present an analysis of 2225 simulations of artificial oil well blowouts in nearshore and offshore waters of Newfoundland, Canada. In the simulations, we coupled the VDROP-J and TAMOC models to simulate the fate and transport of oil and gas from the release to the sea surface. Simulations were conducted with and without subsea dispersant injection. We analyzed the simulation database to quantify the mass fraction of oil and gas that surfaces, the mass fraction of released benzene that surfaces, and the horizontal offset to the surfacing zone. These data are also synthesized to yield empirical correlations to predict these output metrics from key input parameters. These correlations are summarized in an excel spreadsheet that allows rapid evaluation of spill dynamics with minimal initial knowledge of spill details. We call this tool an offshore response guidance table, which allows exploration of spill dynamics under diverse spill and response options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Socolofsky
- Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3136, USA.
| | - Inok Jun
- Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3136, USA
| | - Michel C Boufadel
- Center for Natural Resources, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Ruixue Liu
- Center for Natural Resources, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Youyu Lu
- Ocean and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - J Samuel Arey
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, NJ, USA
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French-McCay DP, Robinson H, Bock M, Crowley D, Schuler P, Rowe JJ. Counter-historical study of alternative dispersant use in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 180:113778. [PMID: 35659664 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recent completion of oil fate modeling and a mass budget of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill allows for a counter-historical study using quantitative Comparative Risk Assessment (CRA) methodology. Novel application of subsea dispersant injection (SSDI) during the response reduced surfacing oil, volatile organic carbon emissions, and oil on shorelines. The effectiveness of that application, and potential alternatives had dispersant not been used or been used more aggressively, were evaluated by modifying and comparing the validated oil fate model under different SSDI strategies. A comparison of mass balance results, exposure metrics, and CRA scoring for Valued Ecological Components (VECs) shows the value of SSDI in achieving risk reduction and tradeoffs that were made. Actual SSDI applied during the DWH oil spill reduced exposures to varying degrees for different VECs. Exposures and relative risks across the ecosystem would have been substantially reduced with more effective SSDI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Deborah Crowley
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA.
| | - Paul Schuler
- Clean Caribbean & Americas, Oil Spill Response Ltd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA.
| | - Jill J Rowe
- RPS Ocean Science, South Kingstown, RI, USA.
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Emulating Deep-Sea Bioremediation: Oil Plume Degradation by Undisturbed Deep-Sea Microbial Communities Using a High-Pressure Sampling and Experimentation System. ENERGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/en15134525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in the deep-sea have been largely determined under atmospheric pressure, which may lead to non-representative results. In this work, we aim to study the response of deep-sea microbial communities of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) to oil contamination at in situ environmental conditions and provide representative biodegradation rates. Seawater from a 600 to 1000 m depth was collected using a high-pressure (HP) sampling device equipped with a unidirectional check-valve, without depressurization upon retrieval. The sample was then passed into a HP-reactor via a piston pump without pressure disruption and used for a time-series oil biodegradation experiment at plume concentrations, with and without dispersant application, at 10 MPa and 14 °C. The experimental results demonstrated a high capacity of indigenous microbial communities in the deep EMS for alkane degradation regardless of dispersant application (>70%), while PAHs were highly degraded when oil was dispersed (>90%) and presented very low half-lives (19.4 to 2.2 days), compared to published data. To our knowledge, this is the first emulation study of deep-sea bioremediation using undisturbed deep-sea microbial communities.
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17
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Freeman DH, Ward CP. Sunlight-driven dissolution is a major fate of oil at sea. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl7605. [PMID: 35171676 PMCID: PMC8849300 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl7605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Oxygenation reactions initiated by sunlight can transform insoluble components of crude oil at sea into water-soluble products, a process called photo-dissolution. First reported a half century ago, photo-dissolution has never been included in spill models because key parameters required for rate modeling were unknown, including the wavelength and photon dose dependence. Here, we experimentally quantified photo-dissolution as a function of wavelength and photon dose, making possible a sensitivity analysis of environmental variables in hypothetical spill scenarios and a mass balance assessment for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DwH) spill. The sensitivity analysis revealed that rates were most sensitive to oil slick thickness, season/latitude, and wavelength and less sensitive to photon dose. We estimate that 3 to 17% (best estimate 8%) of DwH surface oil was subject to photo-dissolution, comparable in magnitude to other widely recognized fate processes. Our findings invite a critical reevaluation of surface oil budgets for both DwH and future spills at sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Haas Freeman
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Collin P. Ward
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
- Corresponding author.
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18
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French-McCay DP, Robinson HJ, Spaulding ML, Li Z, Horn M, Gloekler MD, Kim YH, Crowley D, Mendelsohn D. Validation of oil fate and mass balance for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: Evaluation of water column partitioning. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113064. [PMID: 34695690 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Model predictions of oil transport and fate for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (Gulf of Mexico) were compared to field observations and absolute and relative concentrations of oil compounds in samples from 900 to 1400 m depth <11 km from the well. Chemical partitioning analyses using quantitative indices support a bimodal droplet size distribution model for oil released during subsea dispersant applications in June with 74% of the mass in >1 mm droplets that surfaced near the spill site within a few hours, and 1-8% as <0.13 mm microdroplets that remained below 900 m. Analyses focused on 900-1400 m depth <11 km from the well indicate there was substantial biodegradation of dissolved components, some biodegradation in microdroplets, recirculation of weathered microdroplets into the wellhead area, and marine oil snow settling from above 900 m carrying more-weathered particulate oil into the deep plume.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Malcolm L Spaulding
- Department of Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Zhengkai Li
- Center for Drinking Water Quality, Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | | | - Yong Hoon Kim
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester, PA, USA
| | - Deborah Crowley
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA
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