Chronic Oil Pollution Research Articles

Cellular adaptations of the scleractinian coral Madracis pharensis to chronic oil pollution in a Mediterranean shipwreck

Chemical pollution in marine ecosystems is a factor of stress interacting in multiple and complex ways with other major causes of deterioration, such as warming seas due to climate change. Here we surveyed epibenthic communities from a shipwreck in the Levantine Basin for temporal and spatial changes in the community in relation to chronic oil pollution, comparing results collected from an area of the wreck characterized by chronic oil leakage with another area not affected by oil. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bioaccumulation analyses were integrated with characterization of the efficiency of xenobiotics biotransformation processes and antioxidant network of the scleractinian coral Madracis pharensis, chosen as bioindicator species. Results highlighted the two areas hosting different epibenthic communities over a period of 11 years. Significant changes in the percentage cover of M. pharensis could be the result of recent mass mortality associated to Marine Heat Waves. Biological investigation conducted in M. pharensis tissues revealed an increased content of PAHs in specimens collected from the oil-impacted area, coupled with an increased capability of oxyradicals scavenging capacity and a lower functionality of phase II biotransformation mechanisms associated to glutathione S-transferase. Overall, the results suggest that M. pharensis has the capability to develop cellular and physiological adaptations to chemical-mediated stress, with yet unknown possible energy trade-offs to sustain stress response.

Occurrence, sources and water column distribution trends of suspended particle-associated aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the open northeastern Mediterranean Sea

Herein, we study the occurrence and water column distribution trends of suspended particle-associated aliphatic (AHCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) collected from 36 offshore/deep sea locations across the open northeastern Mediterranean Sea. Total concentrations of the determined compounds fall within the range previously reported for non-polluted coastal and open sea locations worldwide. Mixed natural and anthropogenic sources were evident for the studied compounds, based on their molecular profile and several diagnostic indices. In all cases, an enhanced fossil signal typifying chronic oil pollution was evident along the water column. AHCs and PAHs mixtures characteristics varied significantly within the studied sub-regions, highlighting the importance of inputs from various point sources and dispersion pathways. The circulation characteristics of water masses along with biogeochemical features impact on the water column distribution trends and overall fate of the determined compounds in the study area.

Modeling chronic oil pollution from ships

Stochastic simulations of virtual oil spills from ships were performed for the Adriatic Sea over 2017–2020, applying the European Marine Observation and Data Network vessel densities as a proxy for starting locations of operational spillage. The MEDSLIK-II oil spill model was run using high-resolution currents provided by the Copernicus Marine Service and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts winds. Chronic exposure to operational oil spills was reported in terms of hazard indices for five vessel groups: pleasure and passenger ships, cargo and service vessels, the fishing fleet, tankers, and other ships. The northernmost Adriatic expectedly showed the highest hazard values, including the areas of Trieste and Venice, where cargo and service ships were the dominant polluters. The Croatian coastal waters were more chronically polluted than the Italian coastal waters; the predominant contribution was from coastwise pleasure and passenger ships.

Changing course: Relocating commercial tanker lanes significantly reduces threat of chronic oiling for a top marine predator

A goal for conservation biologists is to show that policies enacted on behalf of an imperiled species results in direct benefits for it. In Argentina, tens of thousands of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) were estimated to have died from chronic oil pollution each year through the early 1980s. From 1982 to 1990, surveys at sites along approximately 900 km of Chubut Province coastline found that >60 % of penguin carcasses had evidence of oiling in some years. In response to these findings, as well as pressure from non-governmental organizations and the public, provincial and federal authorities in Chubut moved the commercial tanker lanes 20 nautical miles farther offshore in 1997 and required oil tankers to have double hulls. During a second round of surveys in 2001, using most of the same sites as the first survey period, the number of dead and oiled penguins dropped effectively to zero. A policy change not only led to fewer oiled penguins, but also likely increased the survival of adult Magellanic penguins near some of their most significant breeding colonies in Argentina.

Bioremediation Potential of Natural Microbiocenosis under Conditions of Chronic Oil Contamination

It was shown that under conditions of chronic exposure to oil fields, the bioremediation potential of autochthonous microbiocenosis, which is formed as a result of seral processes after the release of petroleum hydrocarbons into the environment, plays an important role. As a result of the study, it was found that in the bottom deposits of the Kamenka River (Kungursky district of the Perm Territory, Russia), located on the territory of the Kokuyskoye oil and gas field, bacteriocenosis decomposing oil hydrocarbons were formed. Communities include the main ecological and trophic groups of bacteria: heterotrophs – (1.4–2.4)×107 CFU/g of bottom deposits, crude oil degraders – 5.0×104–2.7×107 CFU/g of bottom deposits, halophiles – 1.0×106–1.3×107 CFU/g of bottom deposits. It was showed that bacteriocenosis decompose alkanes and partially transform cyclanes and arenas, the main components of oil contamination in the study area. Thus, the possibility of restoration of the territory of chronic oil pollution as a result of realization of bioremediation potential of bacterial natural community was confirmed.

Chronic Oil Pollution from Vessels and Its Role in Background Pollution in the Southeastern Baltic Sea

The results of long-term satellite monitoring of oil pollution of the sea surface in the southeastern Baltic Sea (SEB) are discussed in this paper. From June 2004 to December 2020, in total, 2780 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images from different satellites were received and analyzed. There were 788 oil spills detected in the study area. The oil spills were concentrated along the main shipping routes in the SEB. The volume of the detected oil spills was estimated. The average size of the spill was about 2 km2 or 0.8 m3. Seasonal variability of oil pollution shows a decrease in the number of oil detections in the autumn–winter period, which is associated with the prevalence of unfavorable wind conditions that limit the use of SAR technology for oil spill detection and navigation for small ships. In situ measurements show that seasonal variation in the concentration of oil products in seawater is characterized by a maximum in April and a minimum in July. Since 2007, a decrease in oil detections has been observed for the entire Baltic Sea, including the study area. The interannual variability also shows a decrease in the concentration of oil products in the water column. In the southeastern Baltic Sea, the volume of oil products released yearly to the sea surface from ships does not exceed 0.1% of the average instantaneous presence of oil products in the water column.

Seabirds in Conditions of Local Chronic Oil Pollution, Davis Sea, Antarctica

Oil spills are rare in Antarctica. They threaten flying birds and penguins. This is the first report on the interactions of seabirds with oil in the area of the Mirny Station (East Antarctica). The purpose of the study is to determine the total number of seabird species interacting with oil in and around the Mirny Station, to assess the extent of pollution and to identify the most important sites of interactions. Oil pollution is found on the ground, on the continental ice and, on the seawater surface, both directly in the Mirny and beyond. Five species of seabirds were in contact with oil. Oil pollution threats have been identified for breeding and molting Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) and vagrant Macaroni Penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus). Less affected by oil pollution during the breeding season were tube-nosed bird species and skuas. The most important places of interaction of seabirds with oil are at Cape Mabus, on the islands of Zykov, Tokarev, and Stroiteley. Evidence of long-term oil pollution of the environment is indicative of the chronic nature of the impacts on the coastal ecosystem.

Distinct microbial community along the chronic oil pollution continuum of the Persian Gulf converge with oil spill accidents

The Persian Gulf, hosting ca. 48% of the world’s oil reserves, has been chronically exposed to natural oil seepage. Oil spill studies show a shift in microbial community composition in response to oil pollution; however, the influence of chronic oil exposure on the microbial community remains unknown. We performed genome-resolved comparative analyses of the water and sediment samples along Persian Gulf’s pollution continuum (Strait of Hormuz, Asalouyeh, and Khark Island). Continuous exposure to trace amounts of pollution primed the intrinsic and rare marine oil-degrading microbes such as Oceanospirillales, Flavobacteriales, Alteromonadales, and Rhodobacterales to bloom in response to oil pollution in Asalouyeh and Khark samples. Comparative analysis of the Persian Gulf samples with 106 oil-polluted marine samples reveals that the hydrocarbon type, exposure time, and sediment depth are the main determinants of microbial response to pollution. High aliphatic content of the pollution enriched for Oceanospirillales, Alteromonadales, and Pseudomonadales whereas, Alteromonadales, Cellvibrionales, Flavobacteriales, and Rhodobacterales dominate polyaromatic polluted samples. In chronic exposure and oil spill events, the community composition converges towards higher dominance of oil-degrading constituents while promoting the division of labor for successful bioremediation.

Zooplankton of a Taiga River under Chronic Oil Pollution

The species diversity and the quantitative characteristics of zooplankton in the Vatinskii Egan River have been studied in its middle and lower reaches. The river suffers considerable oil pollution. The zooplankton community of the river has been shown to have a relatively stable species structure in river reaches with different level of oil pollution. Zooplankton in taiga rivers running over swampy territories cannot be used as a reliable characteristic of the level of oil and oil product pollution, as it has a high recovery potential because of the very small size of water bodies on the catchment area. For the bioindication of oil pollution with the use of zooplankton, the most informative are the proportions of species within each group and the quantitative Shannon and Pantle–Buck indices, which account for the level of representation of each species in the community.

Around Buzzards Bay to a World of Ocean Science: A Personal Perspective

AbstractReading books, a chemistry set, living by the sea, and a chance attendance by John Farrington at a seminar led to doctor of philosophy studies in ocean sciences at the Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, with a focus on organic chemicals in estuarine ecosystems. An unexpected discovery of a chronic oil pollution problem during these studies set a course for a career of research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution focused on the biogeochemistry of biogenic organic chemicals and organic chemicals of environmental concern such as oil chemicals and polychlorinated biphenyls. This involved cruises to deep open ocean, continental margin, and coastal ecosystems. Several times, the research was influenced by unexpected observations opening important avenues of inquiry. Details of portions of the ocean carbon cycle, especially water column particles and surface sediments, were unraveled. Environmental quality‐related research led to activities at the science‐policy interface. These laboratory group efforts have been recognized by my election as a fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, among other recognitions.

Quantifying the relative impact of hunting and oiling on Brünnich’s guillemots in the North-west Atlantic

Brunnich’s guillemot (Uria lomvia), or thick-billed murre, is an abundant pan-Arctic seabird, but several Atlantic breeding populations are declining. The species is subject to traditional harvest in the important wintering areas off west Greenland and Newfoundland, and has been subject to chronic oil pollution on the east coast of Canada. Until recently, knowledge of winter distribution has been insufficient to assess the impact of these mortality sources on specific breeding populations. We collate existing information on mortality from bag statistics in Greenland and Canada and studies of oiling off Newfoundland, as well as new data on age distribution in the harvest. Based on the results of recent tracking studies, we construct a spatially explicit population model that allocates hunting and oiling mortality to breeding populations and estimates the relative impact on their growth rate. Results indicate that annual population growth rate is depressed by 0.011–0.041 (approximately 1%–4%) by anthropogenic mortality sources. In addition to affecting local breeders, hunting in Greenland mainly affects declining breeding populations in Svalbard and Iceland, while hunting and oiling in Newfoundland mainly affect guillemots breeding in Arctic Canada and north-west Greenland, where most populations are relatively stable. The strongest relative impact is predicted on the small breeding population in Atlantic Canada, which winters mainly on the Newfoundland Shelf and therefore is exposed to both hunting and oiling. Our results clarify the relationships between hunting in Greenland and Canada and growth of specific breeding populations, and thus have major implications for harvest management of guillemots.

Assessment of the Impact of Oil and Heavy Metal Pollution in the Azov Sea on the Condition of the Neogobius Melanostomus (Pallas, 1814)

This article presents the results of long-term monitoring of the oil pollution in the Azov Sea. Areas with long-term chronic pollution (Arabat and Kazantip bays) are identified. The Azov sea transport routes and the location of natural gas fields can be the reason of the oil pollution. In addition to chronic oil pollution, this area is contaminated with heavy metals in particular in bottom sediments. The biological indicator was chosen for a more accurate analysis - the condition of the bottom-dwelling fish Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814). Comparison of the size-mass characteristics, biochemical indicators and morphophysiological parameters of Neogobius melanostomus in different years has shown a decrease in the quality of habitat conditions. This decrease may occur due to contamination of the territory with oil products and heavy metals.

Seasonal Effect on Biomarkers of Exposure to Petroleum Hydrocarbons in the Coasts of North Western Suez Gulf, Egypt

Petroleum hydrocarbons of surface water were collected from eight locations of from the coasts of north western Suez Gulf, Egypt. The extracted petroleum hydrocarbons were determined by gas chromatography–flame ionization detector and quantified by integrating the areas of both the resolved and unresolved components. The results confirm that the concentration is relatively higher than the recommended in the regulations of the Egyptian low of Environment of No.4/1994 of petroleum products. At various locations, The dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons ranged from 5.639 to 74.8 and 1.868 to 65.698 mg/ml for summer and winter seasons, respectively. This indicates that chronic oil pollution, in addition to hydrocarbon concentrations, the diagnostic indices used shows that the hydrocarbons in the area were comes from biogenic, petrogenic and anthropogenic sources. FT-IR spectrometric analysis confirms the petrogenic nature of pollutants.

Effects of low crude oil chronic exposure on the northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica)

Chronic oil pollution related to gas and oil drilling activities is increasing in the sea due to the rising offshore petroleum industry activity. Among marine organisms, zooplankton play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem and therefore understanding the effects of crude oil chronic exposure on zooplankton is needed to determine the impact of oil in marine environments. The present study reports on the effect of crude oil on adult northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica, collected during three seasons. Their sensitivity to oil was examined with oil concentration of 0.01 versus 0.1mgoilL−1 and photo-modified oil in flowing seawater maintained in the dark for 2weeks at in situ temperature. Oil (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) entered the krill (on average, 350 and 4400μg·kg−1 wet weight in low and medium oil treatments respectively) and a larger fraction of the krill exhibited digestive gland pathologies (enhanced apoptosis and pathology of digestive tubules) in oil treatments (27–80%) compared to a significantly lower fraction (7–13%) in treatments that received no oil. However, 2-week oil exposure at these concentrations did not significantly decrease survivorship or impair basic functioning such as feeding and respiration rates. Similarly, there were only limited changes in the transcription of 7 selected genes from head tissue. Additionally, although there was significant seasonal variation in krill total lipid content and fatty acid composition, there was no treatment effect on both these parameters, which suggests limited oxidative stress under experimental conditions. Furthermore, there was no significant treatment effect on two direct measures of oxidative stress (MDA: malondialdehyde and AOPP: advanced oxidation protein products) in any of the seasons. Nevertheless, histology clearly revealed enhanced digestive gland pathologies in krill even at low concentrations. Although krill with such pathologies continue to survive, their accumulation of PAHs may be transferred up the food chain, impacting their predators and the wider ecosystem.

The Effects of Chronic Oil Pollution on Seabird Populations

The Effects of Chronic Oil Pollution on Seabird Populations

Evaluation of biogenic and anthropogenic inputs sediment along the Suez Gulf Shoreline: An implication from aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons

ABSTRACTThe objectives of this paper are providing a level of contamination of superficial coastal sediments by hydrocarbons from the coastal zone of the Suez Gulf through the evaluation of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons analyses using capillary column and gas chromatography. The locations were selected to cover about 18.7 km from the Suez Gulf coast taking into consideration the expected polluted area due to industrial and human activities. The results showed that the three levels of Suez Gulf was classified as highly polluted concentration in sediments and was categorized into four levels (guideline μg/g): unpolluted area/natural background level (10–15), slightly polluted area/upper permissible limits (15–50), and moderately polluted area (50–200). Therefore, the anthropogenic hydrocarbon inputs were more apparent at sites associated with industrial discharges (petroleum distributor and refinery), shipping activities (dry docking), and sewage outfalls (sewage); in addition, the chronic oil pollution in the area may be due to the large quantities of refined products and the limited capabilities of water treatment units located in the study area.

Экосистема Онежского озера: реакция водных сообществ на антропогенные факторы и климатические изменения

Original and take from the references data on the Lake Onegо anthropogenic load dynamics, plankton and benthos conditions over the period of the previous 55 years have been analyzed in order to assess the ecosystem response to long-term and new impact factors such as climate change, chemical and biological contamination. It has been demonstrated that the lake pollution is of a local character while more than 90% of its water area maintains the initial oligotrophic status. Biogenic matter transported to the lake with the pulp-and-paper mills and domestic waste water caused euthrophication of two North-Western bays. The load caused by point pollution sources decreased over the past decades; this was proved by the reoligotrophication processes that occurred in the euthrophic bays bottom communities. However, diffuse pollution sources appeared. Trout-breeding farms in the North-Western bays are a potential threat of the lake euthrophication. A chronic oil pollution of the lake Petrozavodsk Guba has been revealed, for the time being the lake ecosystem manages to cope with it. Biological contamination associated with immigration of Gmelinoides fasciatus Stebbing Baikal amphipoda has led to the increase of the intertidal zone certain parts’ productivity increase and improving of the perch young nutritive base. Climate change causes reversible deviations in the plankton communities’ structure and season recurrence. In order to maintain economic value of the water body it is recommended to adopt some legislative measures for protection of the Lake Onegо as a strategic source of fresh water and to develop the scientifically-based ecological monitoring criteria with taking into account its heterogeneity.

Long-term monitoring study of beached seabirds shows that chronic oil pollution in the southern North Sea has almost halted

Trends in oil rates of beached seabirds reflect temporal and spatial patterns in chronic oil pollution at sea. We analysed a long-term dataset of systematic beached bird surveys along the Belgian North Sea coast during 1962–2015, where extreme high oil contamination rates and consequently high mortality rates of seabirds during the 1960s used to coincide with intensive ship traffic. In the 1960s, >90% of all swimming seabirds that washed ashore were contaminated with oil and estimated oil-induced mortality of seabirds was probably several times higher than natural mortality. More than 50years later oil rates of seabirds have dropped to historically low levels while shipping is still very intense, indicating that chronic oil pollution has significantly declined. The declining trend is discussed in the light of a series of legislative measures that were enacted in the North Sea region to reduce oil pollution.

A preliminary spatial assessment of risk: Marine birds and chronic oil pollution on Canada's Pacific coast

Chronic oil pollution poses substantial risks to marine birds and other marine wildlife worldwide. On Canada's Pacific coast, the negative ecological consequences to marine birds and marine ecosystems in general remain poorly understood. Using information relating to oil spill probability of occurrence, areas of overall importance to marine birds, and the at-sea distribution and density of 12 marine bird species and seven bird groups, including multiple Species at Risk, we undertook a spatial assessment of risk. Our results identify two main areas important to marine birds potentially at higher risk of exposure to oil. For individual bird species or species groups, those predicted to have elevated bird densities near the mainland and the northeast coast of Vancouver Island were identified as being at higher potential risk of exposure. Our results, however, should be considered preliminary. As with other anthropogenic stressors, in order to better understand and subsequently mitigate the consequences of chronic oil pollution on marine birds, improved information relating to marine birds and the occurrence of oil spills on Canada's Pacific coast is needed.

A spatial–seasonal analysis of the oiling risk from shipping traffic to seabirds in the Aleutian Archipelago

Some of the largest seabird concentrations in the northern hemisphere are intersected by major shipping routes in the Aleutian Archipelago. Risk is the product of the probability and the severity incidents in an area. We build a seasonally explicit model of seabird distribution and combine the densities of seabirds with an oil vulnerability index. We use shipping density, as a proxy for the probability of oil spills from shipping accident (or the intensity chronic oil pollution). We find high-risk (above-average seabird and vessel density) areas around Unimak Pass, south of the Alaska Peninsula, near Buldir Island, and north of Attu Island. Risk to seabirds is greater during summer than during winter, but the month of peak risk (May/July) varies depending on how data is analyzed. The area around Unimak Pass stands out for being at high-risk year-round, whereas passes in the western Aleutians are at high risk mostly during summer.