Application Of PAH And Biomarker Diagnostic Ratios In Forensic Oil Spill Identification By The Revised Nordtest Methodology

Abstract

For some years Denmark, like several other countries, has used forensic oil spill identification based on GC-MS fingerprinting according to the Nordtest method for oil spill identification. With this methodology the chemical fingerprints are usually compared visually rendering the final conclusion subjective and dependent on the analyst’s experience. As a result of a recent project initiated by Nordtest, a revised and improved methodology has incorporated PAH and biomarker diagnostic ratios and statistical evaluation to give more robust and technically defensible conclusions. In Denmark, the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) is responsible for the forensic oil spill analysis as part of the national marine oil spill preparedness. In this paper we describe the implementation of the revised Nordtest methodology and the application of diagnostic ratios together with statistical evaluation for the forensic identification of a recent marine oil spill in Danish territorial water.