Marine Science Faculty Publications
Petroleum Hydrocarbon Persistence Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill as a Function of Shoreline Energy
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2017
Keywords
Petroleum hydrocarbon, Weathering, Wave energy, Oil spill, Salt marsh, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.11.022
Abstract
An important aspect of oil spill science is understanding how the compounds within spilled oil, especially toxic components, change with weathering. In this study we follow the evolution of petroleum hydrocarbons, including n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated PAHs, on a Louisiana beach and salt marsh for three years following the Deepwater Horizon spill. Relative to source oil, we report overall depletion of low molecular weight n-alkanes and PAHs in all locations with time. The magnitude of depletion, however, depends on the sampling location, whereby sites with highest wave energy have highest compound depletion. Oiled sediment from an enclosed bay shows high enrichment of high molecular weight PAHs relative to 17α(H),21β(H)-hopane, suggesting the contribution from sources other than the Deepwater Horizon spill, such as fossil fuel burning. This insight into hydrocarbon persistence as a function of hydrography and hydrocarbon source can inform policy and response for future spills.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 115, issue 1-2, p. 47-56
Scholar Commons Citation
Evans, Meredith; Liu, Jiqing; Bacosa, Hernando; Rosenheim, Brad E.; and Liu, Zhanfei, "Petroleum Hydrocarbon Persistence Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill as a Function of Shoreline Energy" (2017). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 2443.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2443
