Hydrocarbon Concentrations In Water Research Articles

Effects of Urbanization on Water Quality and the Macrobenthos Community Structure in the Fenhe River, Shanxi Province, China

The relationships between land use types, water and sediment parameters, and macrobenthos community structures in the upper and middle reaches of the Fenhe River and urbanization intensity were studied. Samples were collected from 23 sampling sites. Spearman rank correlation analyses were performed to assess the relationships between the percentages of impervious area or the proportions of four land uses and the water and sediment physicochemical properties, heavy metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in water and sediment, and biological indicators of the macrobenthos communities. Some water parameters (temperature, oxidation-reduction potential, electrical conductivity, total N concentration, total P concentration, ammonia-N concentration, and nitrate-N concentration), some sediment parameters (total N concentration, total P concentration, organic matter content, percentage of particles with diameters <2 mm, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni Pb, and Zn concentrations), and some macrobenthos parameters (Berger–Parker index and percentages of collectors, tolerant taxa, and Oligochaeta) significantly positively correlated with the percentage of impervious area. Some water parameters (pH and dissolved oxygen concentration), some sediment parameters (percentage of particles with diameters >2 mm), and some macrobenthos parameters (total biomass, total number of taxa, Shannon’s index, N diversity index, and percentages of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, filterers, scrapers, and sensitive taxa) significantly negatively correlated with the percentage of impervious area. The results indicate that intensification of urbanization has strongly affected the water, sediment, and macrobenthos in the Fenhe River watershed.

The Effect of Pressure and Temperature on Mid-Infrared Sensing of Dissolved Hydrocarbons in Water.

Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy using a polymer coated internal reflection element/waveguide is an established sensor platform for the detection of a range of organic and hydrocarbon molecules dissolved in water. The polymer coating serves two purposes: to concentrate hydrocarbons from the aqueous phase and to exclude water along with other interfering molecules from the surface of the internal reflection element. Crucial to reliable quantification and analytical performance is the calibration of the ATR-FTIR sensor which is commonly performed in water under mild ambient conditions (i.e., 25 °C and 1 atm). However, there is a pressing need to monitor environmental and industrial processes/events that may occur at high pressures and temperatures where this calibration approach is unsuitable. Using a ruggedized optical fiber probe with a diamond-based ATR, we have conducted mid-infrared sensor experiments to understand the influence of high pressure (up to 207 bar) and temperature (up to 80 °C) on the detection of toluene and naphthalene dissolved in water. Using a poly(isobutylene) film, we have shown that the IR spectroscopic response is relatively unaffected by changes in pressure; however, a diminished response was observed with increasing temperature. We reveal that changes in the refractive index of the polymer film with temperature have only a minor effect on sensitivity. A more plausible explanation for the observed significant change in sensor response with temperature is that the partitioning process is exothermic and becomes less favorable with increasing temperature. This Article shows that the sensitivity is relatively invariant to pressure; however, the thermal variations are significant and need to be considered when quantifying the concentration of hydrocarbons in water.

Fiber Optic Displacement Sensor for Industrial Applications

Owing to industrial applications, a fiber optic displacement sensor is introduced to determine the concentration of hydrocarbons in water. Hydrocarbon is organic water pollution. It can harm the environment as well as human being. Thus, a reflective configuration technique was developed to study the hydrocarbon concentrations in the range of 0%–20%. To validate the designed system, two concentrations were selected which represent the lower and higher region. In principle, this sensor is using the concept of intensity modulation as a function of displacement. The optimum displacement between the reflecting target and the fiber optic probe was found to be at 1.5 mm for all concentrations. Furthermore, the peak voltage from each fingerprint was found to be inversely proportional to the tested concentration. This implies that the higher concentration of hydrocarbon tends to detect weaker signal. The sensitivity of the fiber optic displacement sensor was found to be 0.12 mV/wt.% with repeatability of 96%. The resolution of the sensor was 0.027 V, with a limit of detection of 0.23%. The linearity index was found to be 0.98 and 1.04 corresponding to 6% and 14% hydrocarbon concentration, respectively. The simplicity and the credibility of such system offer a good opportunity for industrial applications especially in the environmental sector.

Heavy metals and hydrocarbon concentrations in water, sediments and tissue of Cyclope neritea from two sites in Suez Canal, Egypt and histopathological effects.

Heavy metals and hydrocarbons are of the most common marine pollutants around the world. The present study aimed to assess the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals in tissues of the snail cyclope neritea, water and sediments from two sites of the study area (Temsah lake and Suez canal) represent polluted and unpolluted sites respectively. The results showed that, the levels of the heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Co, Mg and Zn) in the polluted area have reached harmful limits recorded globally. Lead in water, sediment and tissue of the snail reached to 0.95 ppm, 4.54 ppm and 7.93 ppm respectively. Cadmium reached 0.31 ppm, 1.15 ppm and 3.08 ppm in the corresponding samples. Cobalt was not detected in water, but it reached 1.42 ppm and 10.36 ppm in the sediment and snails tissue respectively. Magnesium in water, sediment and tissue of the snail reached 3.73 ppm, 9.44 ppm and12.6 ppm respectively. Zinc reached 0.11 ppm, 3.89 ppm and 12.60ppm in the corresponding samples. Meanwhile, hydrocarbons in the polluted area (site1) reached 110.10 μg/L, 980.15 μg/g and 228.00 μg/g in water sediment and digestive gland tissues of the snails respectively. Whereas, hydrocarbons in the unpolluted area (site2) were estimated as 14.20 μg/L, 55.60 μg/g and 22.66 μg/g in water, sediment and tissue of the snails respectively.The combination of histopathological image with monitoring of the metal level in the digestive gland of the present snail provides an important tool for early detection of impending environmental problems and potential public health issues. Petroleum hydrocarbons are toxic to the marine fauna when present above certain limit in the marine water. The major detoxification organ in molluscs is the digestive gland, which has been used as a bioindicator organ for toxicity assessment. The effect of high crude oil on the digestive gland tubules of exposed snails when examined microscopically reveals a series of histological changes which indicates that the cellular compensatory mechanism is activated by hydrocarbons. These changes include vacuolation and presence of pyknotic nuclei.

Petroleum hydrocarbons in water from a Brazilian tropical estuary facing industrial and port development

A fast paced industrial and port development has occurred at Suape Estuary, Northeast Brazil, but no information about hydrocarbon concentrations in water is available to this area. Considering that, the contamination level of Suape was determined by UV-Fluorescence in terms of dissolved and/or dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons (DDPHs), during wet and dry seasons. DDPHs ranged between 0.05 and 4.59μgL−1 Carmópolis oil equivalents and 0.01–1.39μgL−1 chrysene equivalents, indicating DDPHs close to a baseline contamination level. Some relatively high concentrations (>1μgL−1) were probably associated with shipyard operations (hull paintings and ship docking), pollutants remobilization by dredging operations, occasional industrial discharges and oil derivatives released by vessels. DDPHs concentrations were lower in the wet season suggesting that the increased dilution rates caused by rainfall dominated upon the wet deposition of atmospheric combustion-derived PAHs process. Results in this study may be used as baseline to further studies in this area.

Results from a 15-year study on hydrocarbon concentrations in water and sediment from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

AbstractAdmiralty Bay on the King George Island hosts the Brazilian, Polish and Peruvian research stations as well as the American and Ecuadorian field stations. Human activities in this region require the use of fossil fuels as an energy source, thereby placing the region at risk of hydrocarbon contamination. Hydrocarbon monitoring was conducted on water and sediment samples from the bay over 15 years. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used for the analysis of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater samples and gas chromatography with flame ionization and/or mass spectrometric detection was used to analyse individual n-alkanes and PAHs in sediment samples. The results revealed that most sites contaminated by these compounds are around the Brazilian and Polish research stations due to the intense human activities, mainly during the summer. Moreover, the sediments revealed the presence of hydrocarbons from different sources, suggesting a mixture of the direct input of oil or derivatives and derived from hydrocarbon combustion. A decrease in PAH concentrations occurred following improvement of the sewage treatment facilities at the Brazilian research station, indicating that the contribution from human waste may be significant.

Accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Neocalanus copepods in Port Valdez, Alaska

Sampling zooplankton is a useful strategy for observing trace hydrocarbon concentrations in water because samples represent an integrated average over a considerable effective sampling volume and are more representative of the sampled environment than discretely collected water samples. We demonstrate this method in Port Valdez, Alaska, an approximately 100 km 2 basin that receives about 0.5–2.4 kg of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) per day. Total PAH (TPAH) concentrations (0.61–1.31 μg/g dry weight), composition, and spatial distributions in a lipid-rich copepod, Neocalanus were consistent with the discharge as the source of contamination. Although Neocalanus acquire PAH from water or suspended particulate matter, total PAH concentrations in these compartments were at or below method detection limits, demonstrating plankton can amplify trace concentrations to detectable levels useful for study.

Influence of salinity and fish species on PAH uptake from dispersed crude oil

The use of chemical oil dispersants to minimize spill impacts causes a transient increase in hydrocarbon concentrations in water, which increases the risk to aquatic species if toxic components become more bioavailable. The risk of effects depends on the extent to which dispersants enhance the exposure to toxic components, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Increased salinities can reduce the solubility of PAH and the efficiency of oil dispersants. This study measured changes in the induction of CYP1A enzymes of fish to demonstrate the effect of salinity on PAH availability. Freshwater rainbow trout and euryhaline mummichog were exposed to water accommodated fractions (WAF), and chemically-enhanced water accommodated fractions (CEWAF) at 0‰, 15‰, and 30‰ salinity. For both species, PAH exposure decreased as salinity increased whereas dispersant effectiveness decreased only at the highest salinity. Hence, risks to fish of PAH from dispersed oil will be greatest in coastal waters where salinities are low.

The Eurobulker oil spill: mid-term changes of some ecosystem indicators

The sinking of the tanker Eurobulker in Southern Evoikos gulf (Aegean Sea, Greece) in September 2000 resulted in a spill of 700 tons of crude oil. The environmental impact of the spill was studied by the National Centre for Marine Research. The hydrocarbon concentrations in water, sediment and coastal benthic organisms were measured and the response of the benthic communities to the disturbance caused by the oil spill was studied along the direction to the coast and over three sampling seasons. The most severe and direct effects were evidenced on the muddy benthic communities of the accident site and the stations in the close vicinity sampled shortly after the spill. The effects included reduction of the species richness and community diversity, but the communities reached full recovery 8 months later. The impact of the spill was more indirect and delayed in the coastal stations, where as the hydrocarbon measurements indicated, the pollutants were transported later and induced their effects on the benthic communities 6 months after the accident.

Petroleum hydrocarbon distribution features in water and sediment off Fujian shore

This study on the distribution features of petroleum hydrocarbon in water and sediment off the Fujian shore using data obtained from the baseline research on oceanic contamination in Fujian showed that: during the research period, petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in water varied from 5.77 μg/L to 37.28 μg/L, averaged 14.48 μg/L; was lower in the wet season than in the dry season; and was highest in the Minjiang Estuary and Jiulong Estuary in both seasons. The petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in shore sediment varied from 14.48 mg/kg to 784.36 mg/kg, averaged 133.3 mg/kg, and was closely related to sediment types (granularity).

Induction of heat shock protein (hsp)60 in Isochrysis galbana exposed to sublethal preparations of dispersant and Prudhoe Bay crude oil

Adaptation to sublethal exposure to crude oil by phytoplankton is poorly understood. Use of chemical dispersants for oil spill remediation increases petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in water, while exposing marine organisms to potentially toxic concentrations of dispersant. Heat shock proteins (hsps) have been found to serve as an adaptive and protective mechanism against environmental stresses. The objective of this project was to examine the induction of hsps in Isochrysis galbana, a golden-brown algae, following exposure to the water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of Prudhoe Bay crude oil (PBCO) and PBCO chemically dispersed with Corexit 9527® (dispersed oil: DO). Initial experiments using 35S-labeled amino acids and 2-dimensional electrophoresis with subsequent western blotting identified and confirmed hsp60, a member of the chaperonin family of stress proteins, as being efficiently induced by heat shock in this species. One-dimensional SDS PAGE and western blotting, with hsp60 antibodies and chemiluminesence detection, were used to quantitate hsp60 following exposure to a range of environmental temperatures and concentrations of WAF and DO preparations. I. galbana cultured in 22 parts per thousand (‰) salinity showed a statistically significant increase ( p<0.05) in hsp60 after exposure to 25, 30, and 35°C for 1 h compared to controls (20°C), while 34‰ cultures showed no significant increase in hsp60 with increasing temperature. Cultures (22 and 34‰) exposed to varying doses of WAF and DO exhibited statistically significant ( p<0.05) increases in levels of hsp60 in all cases. A dose-related response was observed in all exposures ( r 2≥0.90) with the exception of 34‰ WAF. In independent exposures, a dose-related hsp60 response to naphthalene, a relatively abundant water-soluble aromatic hydrocarbon, was observed in both 22 and 34‰ cultures. Results of this study are consistent with previous studies in other species documenting increases in hsp60 levels with exposure to xenobiotics. Further studies are investigating the protective function of hsp60 against the toxic effects of exposure to WAF and DO preparations.

Assessment of water quality in estuarine and coastal waters of england and wales using a contaminant concentration technique

Water samples were taken from over 40 estuarine, nearshore and offshore sites in the U.K. during two CEFAS research cruises in 1993. The samples were processed using a bulk hexane extraction and concentration procedure and bioassayed using the marine harpacticoid copepod Tisbe battagliai. This process allowed the toxic effects of non-polar organic contaminants to be measured at all sites, expressed as the concentration factor required to elicit a 48 h median lethal response. Total hydrocarbons (THC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were also quantified to estimate their contribution to sample toxicity. Extracted contaminants were concentrated <10–300-fold for estuarine sites, 100–600-fold for nearshore sites and 350- > 1000-fold for offshore sites before toxicity was observed. A tentative water contamination ranking of the studied estuaries was established as Tees > Wear > Mersey > Tyne > Blyth, Poole Harbour, Southampton Water > Ribble, Dee, Lune. Chemical analysis revealed a weak but statistically significant correlation (−0.36 to −0.43) between total hydrocarbon concentrations in water and the concentration factor required to elicit a median lethal response. There was no correlation between a control determinand, algal fluorescence and toxicity. The results indicate that hydrocarbons may make a significant potential contribution to the toxicity of estuarine and coastal waters with a selected 10 PAH compounds estimated to be responsible for up to 18% of the total toxicity at one specific site. However, the cause of the majority of the toxic response remains unidentified. Although the technique is based on an acute endpoint, the high concentration factors required at near and offshore sites suggest that hexane extractable contaminants were not present at chronically toxic concentrations in the untreated seawater. However, at some estuarine sites, low concentration factors (<200-fold) suggested that these waters may be exhibiting chronic biological effects that are not always demonstrated by conventional bioassay-based monitoring.

Oocyte collection in cattle: Is there a correlation between yield of oocytes and serum insulin-like growth factor-I levels?

In 1980, the Bavarian State Agency for Water Research (Bayerische Landesanstalt für Wasserforschung), D-Munich, ran a field test in which the concentrations of hydrocarbons in water were monitored during and after intensive motor boating. The hydrocarbon (HC) detection limit was 0.03 mg/l with an accuracy of 30–50%. The average background level was 0.05 mg HC/1. The test was run in a 100 × 20 m testpond, filled with 4000 m3 fresh water from the river Isar. A 3.3 m long testboat, equipped with a 7 kW mixed lubricated two-stroke outboard motor running at 3500 rev/min, was driven 600 times over the same longitudinal track during a period of 8 h. This is equivalent to very intensive outboard motor usage in the field. For the first half of the test, a synthetic lubricant was used in a 100:1 mixture. In the second half, a mineral oil was used at 50:1. During the whole test, a total of 16.27 1 of fuel was consumed in 345 min of actual operation. As the motor produced 5.9 kW at 3500 rev/min the specific fuel consumption was 0.48 1/kWh. The total environmental surface load was 81.35 1/ha per day. In the first half of the test, the motor was run for a total of 166 min and consumed 7.88 1 fuel. Under the test conditions with this synthetic lubricant, the hydrocarbon concentrations at the surface and at 0.2 m and 1.5 m depth, showed at most an insignificant increase as the average measurements remained well within the statistical dispersion of normal background levels. During the second half of the test, the motor ran for a total of 179 min and consumed 8.39 1 fuel. During this part of the test, there was a clear increase of the hydrocarbon level at the surface. The concentrations were, however, much lower than what might have been expected on the basis of known emission factors. Even under the intensive usage conditions during this test, the hydrocarbon concentrations remained far below known acute toxicity limits of both lubricants. Longterm ecological effects were not investigated in this test. In this field test, speed and direction of the wind were continuously monitored. It was shown that wind effects provide a relatively rapid transit system to transport surface hydrocarbons from up-wind to down-wind areas.

Polymer based RIFS sensing: an approach to the indirect measurement of organic pollutants in water

Organic pollutants in water originating from industrial sources are a major problem. For their detection, the application of thin film polymer transducers is described. The reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIFS) technique was used as a method of detection. Sampling is achieved by an FIA system which allows the determination of concentrations of hydrocarbons in water. The experimental set-up is outlined in detail. The sensitivities for toluene and different chlorinated hydrocarbons are given. The sensors used show a linear dependence on the analyte concentration over a wide concentration range. The limit of detection achieved with this system is discussed.

Two-stroke engine lubricant emissions in a body of water subjected to intensive outboard motor operation

In 1980, the Bavarian State Agency for Water Research (Bayerische Landesanstalt für Wasserforschung), D-Munich, ran a field test in which the concentrations of hydrocarbons in water were monitored during and after intensive motor boating. The hydrocarbon (HC) detection limit was 0.03 mg/l with an accuracy of 30–50%. The average background level was 0.05 mg HC/1. The test was run in a 100 × 20 m testpond, filled with 4000 m 3 fresh water from the river Isar. A 3.3 m long testboat, equipped with a 7 kW mixed lubricated two-stroke outboard motor running at 3500 rev/min, was driven 600 times over the same longitudinal track during a period of 8 h. This is equivalent to very intensive outboard motor usage in the field. For the first half of the test, a synthetic lubricant was used in a 100:1 mixture. In the second half, a mineral oil was used at 50:1. During the whole test, a total of 16.27 1 of fuel was consumed in 345 min of actual operation. As the motor produced 5.9 kW at 3500 rev/min the specific fuel consumption was 0.48 1/kWh. The total environmental surface load was 81.35 1/ha per day. In the first half of the test, the motor was run for a total of 166 min and consumed 7.88 1 fuel. Under the test conditions with this synthetic lubricant, the hydrocarbon concentrations at the surface and at 0.2 m and 1.5 m depth, showed at most an insignificant increase as the average measurements remained well within the statistical dispersion of normal background levels. During the second half of the test, the motor ran for a total of 179 min and consumed 8.39 1 fuel. During this part of the test, there was a clear increase of the hydrocarbon level at the surface. The concentrations were, however, much lower than what might have been expected on the basis of known emission factors. Even under the intensive usage conditions during this test, the hydrocarbon concentrations remained far below known acute toxicity limits of both lubricants. Longterm ecological effects were not investigated in this test. In this field test, speed and direction of the wind were continuously monitored. It was shown that wind effects provide a relatively rapid transit system to transport surface hydrocarbons from up-wind to down-wind areas.

Photoinduced toxicity of anthracene to juvenile bluegill sunfish (Lepomis Macrochirus Rafinesque): Photoperiod effects and predictive hazard evaluation

AbstractThe effect of daily light‐cycle duration (photoperiod) on the solar ultraviolet radiation (SUVR) ‐induced toxicity of anthracene to juvenile bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus R.) in a laboratory system under simulated sunlight was examined. Rates of acute mortality were dependent on both anthracene concentration and photoperiod. Median lethal time values calculated on the basis of accumulated SUVR exposure time (UV‐LT50) were compared with LT50 values calculated from real time of exposure (R‐LT50) to determine relative rates of phototoxic damage versus physiologic repair during periods of darkness. The comparison of these LT50 values indicated that the photoinduced toxicity of anthracene to fish was slowly repaired during periods of darkness but that enough damage accumulated over several SUVR cycles to cause acute mortality.The results from these experiments were incorporated into a relationship to predict no‐effect anthracene concentrations from the daily light‐cycle duration at one SUVR intensity. Information from acute toxicity tests was used to extrapolate to chronic no‐effect values. No‐effect anthracene concentrations in water were predicted to range from 1.2 μg/L for 24 h light:0 h dark photoperiod to 13.5 μg/L for a 6 h light: 18 h dark photoperiod. A no‐effect anthracene body burden of 131 μg/kg has been calculated for juvenile bluegill sunfish for a 16 h light:8 h dark photoperiod at an equivalent depth of 3.0 m in a typical eutrophic system. Thus, considering current natural polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in water and in fish tissue, there exists natural waters in which photoinduced PAH toxicity may occur.

Hydrocarbon concentrations in water and sediments from UK marine waters, determined by fluorescence spectroscopy

Between January 1978 and September 1979 samples of subsurface (1 m) water and surface sediment were collected from sites in the North Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea and a number of estuarine areas. These have been analysed by fluorescence spectroscopy (UVF) in order to provide information on the levels of hydrocarbons generally present in UK marine waters. Total hydrocarbon concentrations (THCs) of water samples ranged from 1.1–74 μg l. −1 Ekofisk crude oil equivalents, all values greater than 3.5 μg l. −1 occurring inshore. In offshore areas the mean THCs were: 1.3 μg l. −1 in the northern North Sea, 1.5 μg l. −1 in the western Channel, 2.5 μg l. −1 in the eastern Channel and southern North Sea, and 2.6 μg l. −1 in the Irish Sea. THCs of sediment samples ranged from 0.27–340 μ g −1 dry weight Ekofisk crude oil equivalents, the highest concentration being in the Queen's Channel, the main entrance to the River Mersey.

Hydrocarbon concentrations in water and sediments from UK marine waters, determined by fluorescence spectroscopy : Law, R.J., 1981. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 12(5):153–157

Hydrocarbon concentrations in water and sediments from UK marine waters, determined by fluorescence spectroscopy : Law, R.J., 1981. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 12(5):153–157