Study fate of pollutants due to oil spill in sea water through multimedia environmental modeling

Abstract

Due to massive shipment of oil across the border, spill disaster occurs which results in release of pollutants posing both short- and long-term threats to ambient environment. In this paper, an integrated oil spill multimedia model framework is conceptualized which comprises Fugacity and Hydrocarbon Spill Screen Model. The aim of the model development is to predict the fate and transport mechanism of oil spill-based pollutants across multimedia i.e., water, air, sediments, and aquatic biota. Hydrocarbon spill screen model is used to identify mass flux and predict concentration of pollutants in receptor medium i.e., in surface water. Whereas, fugacity level I model is applied to determine multiphase transfer rates of contaminants from one medium to another. The developed framework is applied to a case study to explore the feasibility of a model. Three different poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, benzene, and toluene) are considered for model simulation. The results from modeling study reveal that 30,000 tons of crude oil spillage contribute 58% release of naphthalene pollutant in receiving water body. Whereas, other two constituents i.e., benzene and toluene are abundantly present in air phase contributing 83% and 85% release in air, respectively. Overall, naphthalene remained persistent in environment for around 7 years, polluting most of bottom sediments through advection phenomena and by bio-accumulating in aquatic species. Thus, the model provides useful outcomes to analyze the fate of pollutants released in environment because of spillage and help to select remediation method for spills incidents in time.