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Stoyanovich SS, Saunders LJ, Yang Z, Hanson ML, Hollebone BP, Orihel DM, Palace V, Rodriguez-Gil JL, Mirnaghi FS, Shah K, Blais JM. Chemical Weathering Patterns of Diluted Bitumen Spilled into Freshwater Limnocorrals. Environ Sci Technol 2023. [PMID: 37267462 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Due to the sudden nature of oil spills, few controlled studies have documented how oil weathers immediately following accidental release into a natural lake environment. Here, we evaluated the weathering patterns of Cold Lake Winter Blend, a diluted bitumen (dilbit) product, by performing a series of controlled spills into limnocorrals installed in a freshwater lake in Northern Ontario, Canada. Using a regression-based design, we added seven different dilbit volumes, ranging from 1.5 to 180 L, resulting in oil-to-water ratios between 1:71,000 (v/v) and 1:500 (v/v). We monitored changes in the composition of various petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), including n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and oil biomarkers in dilbit over time, as it naturally weathered for 70 days. Depletion rate constants (kD) of n-alkanes and PAHs ranged from 0.0009 to 0.41 d-1 and 0.0008 to 0.38 d-1, respectively. There was no significant relationship between kD and spill volume, suggesting that spill size did not influence the depletion of petroleum hydrocarbons from the slick. Diagnostic ratios calculated from concentrations of n-alkanes, isoprenoids, and PAHs indicated that evaporation and photooxidation were major processes contributing to dilbit weathering, whereas dissolution and biodegradation were less important. These results demonstrate the usefulness of large scale field studies carried out under realistic environmental conditions to elucidate the role of different weathering processes following a dilbit spill.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zeyu Yang
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1V 1C7, Canada
| | - Mark L Hanson
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Bruce P Hollebone
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1V 1C7, Canada
| | - Diane M Orihel
- Department of Biology and School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Vince Palace
- International Institute for Sustainable Development, Experimental Lakes Area, 111 Lombard Avenue, Suite 325, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3N 0T4, Canada
| | - Jose L Rodriguez-Gil
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
- International Institute for Sustainable Development, Experimental Lakes Area, 111 Lombard Avenue, Suite 325, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3N 0T4, Canada
| | - Fatemeh S Mirnaghi
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1V 1C7, Canada
| | - Keval Shah
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1V 1C7, Canada
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2
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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. Aquat Toxicol 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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3
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Yang Z, Shah K, Courtemanche C, Hollebone BP, Yang C, Beaulac V. The fate and behavior of petroleum biomarkers in diluted bitumen and conventional crude oil exposed to natural sunlight in simulated seawater. Chemosphere 2023; 320:137906. [PMID: 36681197 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Given that the physicochemical properties of diluted bitumen (dilbit) can differ from those of conventional crude oil, understanding the fate and behavior of this petroleum product in the environment becomes vital. This study involves the analysis of the photolytic behavior of some representative petroleum biomarkers, bicyclic sesquiterpanes (BSs), admantanes (ADs), diamantanes (DAs), and mono- and triaromatic steranes (MASs and TASs), by exposing Cold Lake Blend (CLB) and Alberta Sweet Mixed Blend (MSW) to winter and summer insolation after being spilled onto artificial brines. Aromatic steranes in all control samples remained relatively stable, whereas the biomarkers of BSs, ADs, and DAs were less stable. Similar to the exhaustive loss of the C10-C17 alkanes, 91%-99% of BSs, ADs, and DAs were lost after five days of insolation, especially in summer. Both MASs and TASs were lost gradually in most scenarios, although both of them were lost faster in MSW than observed for CLB. The removal of MASs and TASs did not differ significantly from each other, although their loss was less than observed for PAHs having similar number of rings and greater than for the C21-C33n-alkanes. Therefore, photooxidation, not evaporation or biodegradation, was the main factor responsible for oxidizing these aromatic steranes. However, biomarkers of BSs, ADs and DAs were mostly lost through evaporation. Therefore, aromatic steranes have the potential to be utilized to evaluate the photolytic behavior of petroleum hydrocarbons, while BSs, ADs, and DAs should not be used for this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Yang
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Keval Shah
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Claire Courtemanche
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Bruce P Hollebone
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Chun Yang
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Vanessa Beaulac
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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4
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Monaghan J, Xin Q, Aplin R, Jaeger A, Heshka NE, Hounjet LJ, Gill CG, Krogh ET. Aqueous naphthenic acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a meso-scale spill tank affected by diluted bitumen analyzed directly by membrane introduction mass spectrometry. J Hazard Mater 2022; 440:129798. [PMID: 36027751 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
With the increasing use of unconventional, heavy crude oils there is growing interest in potential impacts of a diluted bitumen (DB) spill in marine and freshwater environments. DB has the potential to release several toxic, trace organic contaminants to the water column. Here, the aqueous concentrations and compositions of two classes of organic contaminants, naphthenic acids (NAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are followed over 8 weeks after a simulated spill of DB (10 L) into a freshwater mesocosm (1200 L) with river sediment (2.4 kg). These complex samples contain biogenic dissolved organic matter, inorganic ions, petroleum contaminants, suspended sediments, and oil droplets. We report the first use of condensed phase membrane introduction mass spectrometry (CP-MIMS) as a direct sampling platform in a complex multi-phase mesocosm spill tank study to measure trace aqueous phase contaminants with little to no sample preparation (dilution and/or pH adjustment). CP-MIMS provides complementary strengths to conventional analytical approaches (e.g., gas- or liquid chromatography mass spectrometry) by allowing the entire sample series to be screened quickly. Trace NAs are measured as carboxylates ([M-H]-) using electrospray ionization and PAHs are detected as radical cations (M+•) using liquid electron ionization coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The DB-affected mesocosm exhibits NA concentrations from 0.3 to 1.2 mg/L, which rise quickly over the first 2 - 5 days , then decrease slowly over the remainder of the study period. The NA profile (measured as the full scan in negative-electrospray ionization at nominal mass resolution) shifts to lower m/z with weathering, a process followed by principal component analysis of the normalized mass spectra. We couple CP-MIMS with high-resolution mass spectrometry to follow changes in molecular speciation over time, which reveals a concomitant shift from classical 'O2' naphthenic acids to more oxidized analogues. Concentrations of PAHs and alkylated analogues (C1 - C4) in the DB-affected water range from 0 to 5 μg/L. Changes in PAH concentrations depend on ring number and degree of alkylation, with small and/or lightly alkylated (C0 - C2) PAH concentrations rising to a maximum in the first 4 - 8 days (100 - 200 h) before slowly decaying over the remainder of the study period. Larger and heavily alkylated (C3 - C4) PAH concentrations generally rise slower, with some species remaining below the detection limit throughout the study period (e.g., C20H12 class including benzo[a]pyrene). In contrast, a control mesocosm (without oil) exhibited NA concentrations below 0.05 mg/L and PAHs were below detection limit. Capitalizing on the rapid analytical workflow of CP-MIMS, we also investigate the impacts of sample filtration at the time of sampling (on NA and PAH data) and sample storage time (on NA data only).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Monaghan
- Applied Environmental Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Qin Xin
- Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY Devon, 1 Oil Patch Drive, Devon, AB T9G 1A8, Canada.
| | - Rebekah Aplin
- Applied Environmental Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5, Canada
| | - Angelina Jaeger
- Applied Environmental Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5, Canada
| | - Nicole E Heshka
- Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY Devon, 1 Oil Patch Drive, Devon, AB T9G 1A8, Canada
| | - Lindsay J Hounjet
- Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY Devon, 1 Oil Patch Drive, Devon, AB T9G 1A8, Canada
| | - Chris G Gill
- Applied Environmental Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1618, USA
| | - Erik T Krogh
- Applied Environmental Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
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5
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Zhu Z, Merlin F, Yang M, Lee K, Chen B, Liu B, Cao Y, Song X, Ye X, Li QK, Greer CW, Boufadel MC, Isaacman L, Zhang B. Recent advances in chemical and biological degradation of spilled oil: A review of dispersants application in the marine environment. J Hazard Mater 2022; 436:129260. [PMID: 35739779 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Growing concerns over the risk of accidental releases of oil into the marine environment have emphasized our need to improve both oil spill preparedness and response strategies. Among the available spill response options, dispersants offer the advantages of breaking oil slicks into small oil droplets and promoting their dilution, dissolution, and biodegradation within the water column. Thus dispersants can reduce the probability of oil slicks at sea from reaching coastal regions and reduce their direct impact on mammals, sea birds and shoreline ecosystems. To facilitate marine oil spill response operations, especially addressing spill incidents in remote/Arctic offshore regions, an in-depth understanding of the transportation, fate and effects of naturally/chemically dispersed oil is of great importance. This review provides a synthesis of recent research results studies related to the application of dispersants at the surface and in the deep sea, the fate and transportation of naturally and chemically dispersed oil, and dispersant application in the Arctic and ice-covered waters. Future perspectives have been provided to identify the research gaps and help industries and spill response organizations develop science-based guidelines and protocols for the application of dispersants application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Zhu
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3×5, Canada
| | | | - Min Yang
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3×5, Canada
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ecosystem Science, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E6, Canada
| | - Bing Chen
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3×5, Canada
| | - Bo Liu
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3×5, Canada
| | - Yiqi Cao
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3×5, Canada
| | - Xing Song
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3×5, Canada
| | - Xudong Ye
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3×5, Canada
| | - Qingqi K Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Charles W Greer
- National Research Council Canada, Energy, Mining and Environment Research Centre, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Michel C Boufadel
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Lisa Isaacman
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ecosystem Science, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E6, Canada
| | - Baiyu Zhang
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3×5, Canada.
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6
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Yang Z, Yang C, Zhang G, Shah K, Chen B, Hollebone BP, Jackman P, Beaulac V. Effects of asphaltenes on the photolytic and toxic behavior of bitumen and conventional oil products on saltwater. J Hazard Mater 2022; 436:129137. [PMID: 35594666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The effects of asphaltenes on the photolytic and toxic behavior of petroleum oil on seawater was investigated by exposing five original oils and their maltenes to solar irradiation for seven days. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) experienced the fastest photo-oxidation, but negligible photolytic loss was observed for most normal alkanes and all the petroleum biomarkers from tri-cyclic to pentyl-cyclic terpanes in the test total oil and maltenes. The removal of most PAHs from some maltenes was greater than the corresponding total oils. Deasphalting process did not affect the characteristics of naphthenic acid fraction components (NAFCs) in all control samples. In all test oils, solar irradiation formed abundant NAFCs, in particular those only containing oxygen as the heteroatoms (Oo species). The formed Oo species were abundant in congeners having highly saturated congeners, and shifted to a lighter carbon number after exposed. Deasphalting process significantly enhanced the formation of Oo species (o from 2 to 4) for all test oils, in particular for the Cold Lake Blend and Bunker C. The toxicity of exposed maltenes was generally higher than the exposed total oil for most oils, suggesting the aqueous toxicity level was positively related to the formed NAFC intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Yang
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Chun Yang
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Gong Zhang
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Keval Shah
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Brian Chen
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Bruce P Hollebone
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Paula Jackman
- Atlantic Laboratory for Environmental Testing Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Moncton, NB, Canada
| | - Vanessa Beaulac
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Challis JK, Parajas A, Anderson JC, Asiedu E, Martin JW, Wong CS, Ross MS. Photodegradation of bitumen-derived organics in oil sands process-affected water. Environ Sci Process Impacts 2020; 22:1243-1255. [PMID: 32227038 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00005a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The chemical composition of water-soluble organics in oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) is primarily composed of natural constituents of bitumen that are solubilized and concentrated during aqueous extraction of oil sands. OSPW organics are persistent and acutely toxic, and a leading remediation strategy is long-term ageing in end-pit lakes, despite limited data available on its photochemical fate. Here, direct photolysis of whole OSPW, or of its constituent fractions, was examined at environmentally relevant wavelengths (>290 nm) in bench-top studies. Changes in the chemical profiles of whole OSPW, acid- (AEO), and base-extractable organics (BEO) were characterized by liquid chromatography with ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry in negative (-) and positive (+) ionization modes. Following 18 d of irradiation, photolysis reduced the total ion intensity in all samples in both modes. The most photo-labile species included the O2-, O3-, O4-, O2S-, and O4S- chemical classes, which were depleted in whole OSPW by 93-100% after only 5 d. In positive mode, detected species were more recalcitrant than those detected in negative mode, with an average reduction across all heteroatomic classes of 75 ± 11.0% after 18 d. Estimated environmental half-lives for heteroatomic classes ranged from 57 d (O4S-) to 545 d (O3N+), with a greater recalcitrance for classes detected in positive mode compared to negative mode. Under field conditions in end-pit lakes, natural photolysis may be an important mechanism for effective OSPW remediation, and we suggest that future end-pit lakes be shallow to maximize light penetration and natural photolysis in ageing OSPW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan K Challis
- Department of Chemistry, Richardson College for the Environment, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9, Canada
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Yang Z, Shah K, Laforest S, Hollebone BP, Situ J, Crevier C, Lambert P, Brown CE, Yang C. Occurrence and weathering of petroleum hydrocarbons deposited on the shoreline of the North Saskatchewan River from the 2016 Husky oil spill. Environ Pollut 2020; 258:113769. [PMID: 31855671 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Following the 16TAN Husky oil spill along the North Saskatchewan River (NSR), the occurrence and natural attenuation of the petroleum hydrocarbons were assessed by analyzing the littoral zone sediments/oil debris collected from July 2016 to October 2017. Husky oil-free, mixed sediment-Husky oil, and Husky oil debris samples were identified for all the collected samples. Shoreline sediments were contaminated by mixed biogenic, pyrogenic and petrogenic inputs prior to the spill. Oil stranded on the shoreline of NSR was moved or buried due to the very dynamic conditions of the shoreline, or cleaned through a series of cleanup activities after the spill. Most normal alkanes were naturally weathered, whereas most of the branched alkanes and all of the saturated petroleum biomarkers remained. Some lighter molecular weight (e.g., 2 to 3-ring) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were lost rapidly after the spill, whereas sulfur containing components, e.g., dibenzothiophenes and benzonaphthothiiophenes, and those having a heavier molecular weight did not change markedly even 15 months post-spill. Similarly, some light hydrocarbons (e.g., <C10) were lost over the first kilometers from the point of entry (POE), while heavier hydrocarbons did not show any major differences away from the POE. Very large inter-site and inter-survey discrepancies were found for samples. Evaporation into the air and dissolution into water, combined with biodegradation, were together or independently the main contributors to the loss of the light molecular hydrocarbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Yang
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A0H3, Canada.
| | - Keval Shah
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A0H3, Canada
| | - Sonia Laforest
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A0H3, Canada
| | - Bruce P Hollebone
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A0H3, Canada
| | - Jane Situ
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A0H3, Canada
| | - Charlotte Crevier
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A0H3, Canada
| | - Patrick Lambert
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A0H3, Canada
| | - Carl E Brown
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A0H3, Canada
| | - Chun Yang
- Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A0H3, Canada
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9
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Johannessen SC, Greer CW, Hannah CG, King TL, Lee K, Pawlowicz R, Wright CA. Fate of diluted bitumen spilled in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada. Mar Pollut Bull 2020; 150:110691. [PMID: 31744609 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
There is public concern about the behaviour of spilled diluted bitumen (dilbit) in marine and estuarine waters. We provide a preliminary assessment of the results of laboratory experiments and models, in the context of environmental conditions in the coastal waters of British Columbia. Most dilbit spilled within this region would likely float at the surface and be transported to shore by winds and currents. Fresh dilbit is too light to sink in coastal waters. Highly weathered dilbit could sink where salinity is less than 14, typically only near river mouths and in the top 1-3 m of fjords after heavy rainfall. Subsurface plumes of weathered dilbit could re-emerge at the surface. Sinking oil-particle aggregates are unlikely to form in coastal waters. However, dilbit could be entrained below the surface by wave mixing during storms and to depths of 150 m by coherent mixing in the Haro Strait tidal convergence zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia C Johannessen
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences 9860 W. Saanich Rd., P.O. Box 6000, Sidney, B.C., V8L 4B2, Canada.
| | - Charles W Greer
- National Research Council Canada, Energy, Mining and Environment Research Centre, 6100 Royalmount Ave., Montreal, Quebec, H4P 2R2, Canada.
| | - Charles G Hannah
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences 9860 W. Saanich Rd., P.O. Box 6000, Sidney, B.C., V8L 4B2, Canada.
| | - Thomas L King
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research, PO Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada.
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ecosystem Science, 200 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0E6, Canada.
| | - Rich Pawlowicz
- University of British Columbia, Dept. of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, 2020-2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Cynthia A Wright
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences 9860 W. Saanich Rd., P.O. Box 6000, Sidney, B.C., V8L 4B2, Canada.
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