Abstract
Oil spills at sea pose risks to the marine environment and to the economy of many nations. Marine ecosystems are very vulnerable and precious as producers of oxygen and as regulators of climate. Therefore, their protection and preservation are necessary. In the event of an oil spill, anthropogenic clean-up activities and natural weathering processes can minimize the negative effects on marine organisms, and the marine environment in general. The target of this study was to investigate the status of the sea along the coastline of the Saronic Gulf, Greece, a year after the sinking of the Agia Zoni II oil tanker. Seawater samples from 15 sampling locations from Phlisvos coast to Anavissos, an area easily approached by bathers with recreational interest, were collected and analysed for total petroleum hydrocarbons. Concentrations up to a maximum of 56.6 μg/L were detected. Despite the large extent of the initial hydrocarbon pollution, the immediate clean-up operations and natural weathering and/or sorption processes have reduced the impact of the spill on surface waters.
Highlights
Maintaining good ecological and environmental status of the marine environment is considered a prime concern for the welfare of future generations
In order to evaluate the presence of dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons due to the fuel oil spill from the tanker Agia Zoni II, seawater samples were collected from 15 sampling locations where water visibility to bathers was high, and the assurance of public health protection necessary
Results of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) concentrations obtained up to 367 days and 398–399 days after the incident are given in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively
Summary
Maintaining good ecological and environmental status of the marine environment is considered a prime concern for the welfare of future generations. A precondition for achieving this objective is to protect and conserve biodiversity, preserve ecosystems and prevent pollution from anthropogenic activities. While its extraction and transportation are essential, accidents that result in large oil spills occur and attract the interest of the public and the media. Much of this interest has focused on the dangers posed by oil spills and their consequences on the environment. Experts estimate that about 30–50% of oil spills are directly or indirectly caused by human error, while 20–40% are caused by equipment failure or malfunction. The average cost of cleaning oil spills worldwide ranges from $40–400/L depending on the type of oil and where the leak occurred. Cleaning coastlines is usually the most expensive clean-up process [1]
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