Level and degradation of Deepwater Horizon spilled oil in coastal marsh sediments and pore-water

Environmental Science & Technology
Michael NatterMing-Kuo Lee

Abstract

This research investigates the level and degradation of oil at ten selected Gulf saltmarsh sites months after the 2010 BP Macondo-1 well oil spill. Very high levels (10-28%) of organic carbon within the heavily oiled sediments are clearly distinguished from those in pristine sediments (<3%). Dissolved organic carbon in contaminated pore-waters, ranging up to hundreds of mg/kg, are 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than those at pristine sites. Heavily oiled sediments are characterized by very high sulfide concentrations (up to 80 mg/kg) and abundance of sulfate reducing bacteria. Geochemical biomarkers and stable carbon isotope analyses fingerprint the presence of oils in sediments. Ratios of selected parameters calculated from the gas chromatograph spectra are in a remarkable narrow range among spilled oils and initial BP crude. At oiled sites dominated by C(4) plants, δ(13)C values of sediments (-20.8 ± 2.0‰) have been shifted significantly lower compared to marsh plants (-14.8 ± 0.6‰) due to the inflow of isotopically lighter oil (-27 ± 0.2‰). Our results show that (1) lighter compounds of oil are quickly degraded by microbes while the heavier fractions of oil still remain and (2) higher inputs of organic matter from the oil...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 20, 2012·Environmental Science & Technology·Christoph AeppliChristopher M Reddy
Aug 13, 2013·Environmental Science & Technology·Charlotte A BrunnerPatrick Louchouarn
May 28, 2013·The Science of the Total Environment·Hugo RibeiroAdriano A Bordalo
Aug 12, 2014·Environmental Science & Technology·Matthew A Pendergraft, Brad E Rosenheim
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Jun 16, 2016·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Jonny BeyerTracy K Collier
Aug 6, 2017·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Annette Summers EngelEdward B Overton
Oct 27, 2015·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Matteo DaghioKorneel Rabaey
Jan 21, 2015·Journal of Environmental Quality·Calista G Mills, Karen S McNeal
May 17, 2014·Environmental Science & Technology·Christoph AeppliChristopher M Reddy

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