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Saharan Y, Singh J, Goyat R, Umar A, Akbar S, Ibrahim AA, Baskoutas S. Novel supramolecular organo-oil gelators for fast and effective oil trapping: Mechanism and applications. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 442:129977. [PMID: 36193609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, for the sorption of oil from oil polluted soil/water systems, nine new supramolecular organo-oil gelators were synthesized using three distinct diisocyanates and alcohols. The manufactured gelators were characterized using various techniques. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and mass spectra confirmed the successful formation of the oil gelators. The synthesis of the proposed gelators was confirmed by the 1H NMR, which exhibited three singlets that were attributed to an aliphatic side chain containing 29 protons. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis exhibited porous, sheets, prisms, and fibrous structures for the supramolecular oil gelators. The oil uptake data analysis was subjected to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models which showed the R2 value of 0.99 and a maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 45 mLg-1. From the mechanistic point of view, it was proposed that the organo-oil gel initially leads to self-assembly and further entanglements forming the fibers, which finally make a trap for the oil molecules. Among all the nine gelators and different combinations used, the combination of ditetradecyl (TDI 14: DMI14: HMI 14) gelators in the ratio of 1:2:1 exhibited maximum oil uptake of ∼58% initially which further boosted to ∼99% using gasoline as the co-congealed solvent. Interestingly, the complete gelation of the oil from the oil-water mixture was achieved within 30 min of application with high oil recovery. The presented study confirmed that the oil removal by organo-oil gelator is a simple, novel, and facile technique, which could be employed for treating oil-contaminated soil/water mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajvinder Saharan
- Department of Chemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133203, Haryana, India
| | - Joginder Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133203, Haryana, India.
| | - Rohit Goyat
- Department of Chemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133203, Haryana, India
| | - Ahmad Umar
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Arts, and Promising Centre for Sensors and Electronic Devices (PCSED), Najran University, Najran 11001, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Sheikh Akbar
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Ahmed A Ibrahim
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Arts, and Promising Centre for Sensors and Electronic Devices (PCSED), Najran University, Najran 11001, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Mithun Sundhar B, Rajan GK. Characterizing ocean surface contamination: Composition, film thickness, and rheology. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114287. [PMID: 36535233 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Contamination of the air-sea interface contributes to wave dissipation, which in turn affects the exchange of momentum and energy between the fluids. In this work, the interfacial region between ocean and atmosphere is investigated to determine its composition, vertical extent, and rhelogical behavior. It is found that average thicknesses of interfacial layers on the ocean, such as those resulting from oil spills, could vary from a few hundreds of nanometers to a few millimeters. In addition to oil, interfacial layers also consist of emulsions, plankton, and chemical compounds, and are expected to be non-Newtonian due to their complex composition. To confirm this, fluid samples (mixtures of water-oil emulsions and skimmed off top layer of a month-old Phormidium sp. strain introduced in artificial seawater nutrient medium) that loosely model an interfacial layer are prepared in the laboratory, and their rheological characteristics are investigated using a rheometer. All the samples exhibit shear thinning behavior within the considered ranges for temperature and shear rate. It is recommended that models for wave dissipation account for both the finite thickness of an interfacial fluid layer and its non-Newtonian behavior, for consistency with the ocean-atmosphere system.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Mithun Sundhar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, AP 517619, India
| | - Girish Kumar Rajan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, AP 517619, India.
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Pérez-Del-Olmo A, Raga JA, Kostadinova A. Parasite communities in a marine fish indicate ecological recovery from the impacts of the Prestige oil-spill 12-13 years after the disaster. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157354. [PMID: 35850338 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Prestige oil-spill (2002) is one of the major marine accidents resulting in contamination of virtually all types of marine habitat along c.900 km of coastline in the North-East Atlantic. Environmental pollution affects parasite populations and communities, both directly and through effects on intermediate and definitive hosts. However, the effects of oil-spills on shelf benthic communities are poorly known. This study addressed the hypothesis of recovery of parasite communities in a marine sparid teleost, the bogue Boops boops (L.) (Teleostei: Sparidae), as indicators of environmental pollution and its effects on benthic/pelagic invertebrate communities in an impacted area off the Galician coast, Spain, 12-13 years after the Prestige oil-spill. Novel data for the metazoan parasite communities collected during 2014-2015 were analysed in association with two unique datasets, one comprising baseline data collected in 2001, one year before the Prestige oil-spill, and one comprising data collected 3-4 years post-spill (2005-2006). Using the taxonomically consistent data on parasites in a series of fish seasonal samples, we found significant differences between the two seasonal post-spill datasets taken at a 9-year time interval (3-4 years and 12-13 years post-spill) in most community metrics and infection parameters of the common species. This was in sharp contrast with the few differences between the long-term post-spill dataset of 2014-2015 and the pre-spill dataset of 2001. Multivariate community similarity analyses confirmed that these differences reflected in the substantial differentiation of parasite community composition and structure of the post-spill communities and the significant homogenisation of communities sampled 12-13 years post-spill and baseline communities. Overall, the novel analyses demonstrated a long-term directional trend in parasite community succession towards ecological recovery irrespective of the natural seasonal variability. These findings suggest longer-term oil-spill impacts on shelf benthic/pelagic invertebrate communities lasting over 10 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Pérez-Del-Olmo
- Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Science Park, University of Valencia, C/Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Spain.
| | - Juan Antonio Raga
- Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Science Park, University of Valencia, C/Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Aneta Kostadinova
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin Street, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Song JY, Kitamura SI, Oh MJ, Nakayama K. Heavy oil exposure suppresses antiviral activities in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus infected with viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV). FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 124:201-207. [PMID: 35378310 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A combined treatment of heavy oil (HO) exposure and virus infection induces increased mortality in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). In this study, we addressed how HO exposure affects the immune system, especially antiviral activities, in Japanese flounder. The fish were infected with viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), followed by exposure to HO. We analyzed virus titers in the heart and mRNA expression in the kidney of surviving fish. The virus titers in fish exposed to heavy oil were higher than the threshold for onset. The results suggest that HO exposure may allow the replication of VHSV, leading to higher mortality in the co-treated group. Gene-expression profiling demonstrated that the expression of antiviral-activity-related genes, such as those for interferon and apoptosis induction, were lower in the co-treated group than in the group with VHSV infection only. These results helped explain the high virus titers in fish treated with both stressors. Thus, interferon production in the virus-infected cells and apoptosis induction by natural killer cells worked normally in the VHSV-infected fish without HO exposure, but these antiviral activities were slightly suppressed by HO exposure, possibly leading to extensive viral replication in the host cells and the occurrence of VHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Young Song
- Pathology Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan, 46083, South Korea
| | - Shin-Ichi Kitamura
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan
| | - Myung-Joo Oh
- Department of Aqualife Medicine, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, 59626, South Korea
| | - Kei Nakayama
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan.
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Etkin DS, Nedwed TJ. Effectiveness of mechanical recovery for large offshore oil spills. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 163:111848. [PMID: 33279223 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical recovery for large offshore oil spills (defined as the marine environment over 10 km from shore outside of bays, lagoons, and marinas) depends on oil behavior, environmental conditions, equipment specifications, and operational issues. These factors limit oil recovery with booms and skimmers. The "rule of thumb" has been that 10-30% of the total oil spilled can be recovered. This paper describes a review of historical oil spills that found only between 2 and 6% of the total oil spilled was recovered. The limiting factors affecting mechanical recovery in offshore settings include environmental conditions, oil behavior, and logistics. Mechanical recovery will always be an important tool for spill response, especially in nearshore and in-port settings, as well as locations with sensitivity to chemical dispersants and/or in situ burning. However, its application in large offshore spills will generally result in recovery of only a fraction of the spilled oil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Schmidt Etkin
- Environmental Research Consulting, 41 Croft Lane, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567-1160, USA.
| | - Tim J Nedwed
- ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, 22777 Springwoods Village, Spring, TX 77389, USA.
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6
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Boating- and Shipping-Related Environmental Impacts and Example Management Measures: A Review. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse8110908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Boating and shipping operations, their associated activities and supporting infrastructure present a potential for environmental impacts. Such impacts include physical changes to bottom substrate and habitats from sources such as anchoring and mooring and vessel groundings, alterations to the physico-chemical properties of the water column and aquatic biota through the application of antifouling paints, operational and accidental discharges (ballast and bilge water, hydrocarbons, garbage and sewage), fauna collisions, and various other disturbances. Various measures exist to sustainably manage these impacts. In addition to a review of associated boating- and shipping-related environmental impacts, this paper provides an outline of the government- and industry-related measures relevant to achieving positive outcomes in an Australian context. Historically, direct regulations have been used to cover various environmental impacts associated with commercial, industrial, and recreational boating and shipping operations (e.g., MARPOL). The effectiveness of this approach is the degree to which compliance can be effectively monitored and enforced. To be effective, environmental managers require a comprehensive understanding of the full range of instruments available, and the respective roles they play in helping achieve positive environmental outcomes, including the pros and cons of the various regulatory alternatives.
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Sivagami K, Padmanabhan K, Joy AC, Nambi IM. Microwave (MW) remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil using spent graphite - An approach for waste as a resource. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 230:151-158. [PMID: 30286345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we have explored the possibility of using an industrial waste for remediation of heavy fuel oil contaminated soil. Microwave (MW) heating in the presence of spent graphite (SG) from an auto forging industry has been used for the remediation. The physico-chemical characterization of SG and contaminated soil were done. Microwave remediation experiments were conducted in a lab scale unit and the effect of different parameters like microwave power, susceptor loading and treatment time were studied and optimized. The contaminated and decontaminated soils were analysed using GC-MS for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), Total Organic Carbon and CHNS analyzers. Batch experiments of soil remediation showed that the TPH removal efficiencies (%) of 41.25, 87.77 and 91.18 at 300, 450 and 600 W respectively at SG concentration of 2.5 (wt. %) for a reaction time of 60 min. The addition of SG as susceptor enhanced the desorption of long chain hydrocarbons (C12-C29) present in the soil. Desorption of hydrocarbons from the soil fits well with first order kinetic model. This study successfully demonstrated the reuse of spent graphite (a lubricant waste) recovered from metal forging operations for remediating the fuel oil contaminated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnasamy Sivagami
- Environmental and Water Resource Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - K Padmanabhan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Erode, India
| | - Alphonsa C Joy
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Indumathi M Nambi
- Environmental and Water Resource Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Tamil Nadu, India.
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8
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García-Olivares A, Agüero A, Haupt BJ, Marcos MJ, Villar MV, de Pablos JL. A system of containment to prevent oil spills from sunken tankers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 593-594:242-252. [PMID: 28343044 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide tank spills represent 10% of the average annual input of oil in the sea. When such spills arise from wrecks at depth, neutralisation of environmental impacts is difficult to achieve. Extracting oil from sunken tankers is expensive, and, unfortunately, all of the oil cannot be extracted, as the Prestige case demonstrates. We propose an environmentally appropriate, cost-effective and proactive method to stop the long-term problem of leaks from sunken tankers similar to the Prestige. This method confines the wreck with a "sediment" capping of sepiolite mineral that emulates a natural sediment. A set of experiments and simulations shows that sepiolite has the characteristics necessary to accomplish the confinement of any current or future sunken tanker with minimal environmental perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio García-Olivares
- CSIC, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar, Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Almudena Agüero
- Deputy Direction General of International Relations, Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Bernd J Haupt
- Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - María J Marcos
- Deputy Direction General of Large Scientific and Technological Facilities, Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO), Madrid, Spain
| | - María V Villar
- Deputy Direction General of Large Scientific and Technological Facilities, Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO), Madrid, Spain
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Jung D, Kim JA, Park MS, Yim UH, Choi K. Human health and ecological assessment programs for Hebei Spirit oil spill accident of 2007: Status, lessons, and future challenges. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 173:180-189. [PMID: 28110007 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 12/31/2016] [Accepted: 12/31/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Hebei Spirit oil spill (HSOS) of December 2007 is one of the worst oil spill accidents that occurred in Yellow Sea. The affected coastline along the west coast of Korean Peninsula hosts one of the largest tidal flats worldwide, and is home to tens of thousands of human residents. Based on nation-wide concerns on ecosystem damages and adverse human health effects, two separate surveillance programs on ecosystem and human health were initiated: a 10-year follow-up program by Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to assess ecological impacts of the oil spill, and an exposure and health effect assessment program by Ministry of Environment for the residents of Taean and its vicinity. For the past eight years, extensive monitoring and surveillance data on ecosystem and humans have been accumulated through these programs. But these studies have been conducted mostly independently, and collaborations were seldom made between two programs. The lack of communication resulted in gaps and overlaps between the programs which led to loss of critical information and efficiency. As oil spill can affect both humans and ecosystem through various pathways, collaboration and communication between human and ecosystem health surveillance programs are necessary, and will synergize the success of both programs. Such concerted efforts will provide better platform for understanding the status of impact, and for developing approaches to address human and ecosystem health challenges that may be faced following environmental disasters like HSOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawoon Jung
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Institute of Health and Environment, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Korea Environment Institute, Sejong 30147, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Ah Kim
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Taean Environmental Health Center, Taean 32148, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Sook Park
- Taean Environmental Health Center, Taean 32148, Republic of Korea
| | - Un Hyuk Yim
- Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungho Choi
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Institute of Health and Environment, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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Fernández-Macho J. Risk assessment for marine spills along European coastlines. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 113:200-210. [PMID: 27659273 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 09/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A marine-spill risk index is proposed to measure and compare the relative vulnerability of coastal regions to marine spills in European waters. It is applied to 301 spills in European waters between 1970 and 2014 for 429 Eurostat territorial units and 156 regions in Europe's coasts. The results show a high heterogeneity among European coastal regions with areas, predominantly on the Atlantic coast, with high marine-spill risks. In particular, UK coasts are markedly affected as there are only five non-British coastal territories within the first 25 territorial units most at risk from marine spills. Across countries, European Atlantic countries face highest risks versus coastal countries on other European waters that are relatively safer. The index also shows a tendency of sea currents to have positive dispersal effects leading to smaller risks rather than otherwise. The index may help to design protection policies and reduce the vulnerability of sensitive resources.
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Weidhaas JL, Dietrich AM, DeYonker NJ, Ryan Dupont R, Foreman WT, Gallagher D, Gallagher JEG, Whelton AJ, Alexander WA. Enabling Science Support for Better Decision-Making when Responding to Chemical Spills. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2016; 45:1490-1500. [PMID: 27695739 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2016.03.0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Chemical spills and accidents contaminate the environment and disrupt societies and economies around the globe. In the United States there were approximately 172,000 chemical spills that affected US waterbodies from 2004 to 2014. More than 8000 of these spills involved non-petroleum-related chemicals. Traditional emergency responses or incident command structures (ICSs) that respond to chemical spills require coordinated efforts by predominantly government personnel from multiple disciplines, including disaster management, public health, and environmental protection. However, the requirements of emergency response teams for science support might not be met within the traditional ICS. We describe the US ICS as an example of emergency-response approaches to chemical spills and provide examples in which external scientific support from research personnel benefitted the ICS emergency response, focusing primarily on nonpetroleum chemical spills. We then propose immediate, near-term, and long-term activities to support the response to chemical spills, focusing on nonpetroleum chemical spills. Further, we call for science support for spill prevention and near-term spill-incident response and identify longer-term research needs. The development of a formal mechanism for external science support of ICS from governmental and nongovernmental scientists would benefit rapid responders, advance incident- and crisis-response science, and aid society in coping with and recovering from chemical spills.
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Conti E, Dattilo S, Costa G, Puglisi C. Bioaccumulation of trace elements in the sandhopper Talitrus saltator (Montagu) from the Ionian sandy coasts of Sicily. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2016; 129:57-65. [PMID: 26990940 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The Ionian beaches of Sicily are of particular ecological interest because they include the basin of the largest active volcano in Europe and hosts both sites subject to natural protection constraints, as well as important industrial settlements. Consequently, the possibilities for these areas to become polluted are numerous. The sandhopper Talitrus saltator has proven to be a good bioindicator of contamination by numerous trace metals on some European coasts. Nevertheless, no data are available for the populations inhabiting the shores of the southern Mediterranean. Now, as metal accumulation has been shown to vary intraspecifically, the aim of this study was to evaluate trace metal accumulation in adults of T. saltator inhabiting Ionian coastal areas of Sicily and make an assessment of natural and anthropogenic metal pollution of this strip of coast. We also extended our survey to As, Co, Mo, Se, Sn and V never investigated before in this species. Significant differences in metal concentration among sites were found in both sand samples and amphipod tissues. The highest metal content was observed near the mouth of Simeto, the longest river of Sicily which collects waters coming from the volcanic territory of Mount Etna. The bioaccumulation of Cd, Cu, Hg and Zn in T. saltator is fully confirmed; it is also proven for As and Mo and assumed for Cr, Fe, Mn and V. Our outcomes let us to evaluate the prevailing influence of telluric contamination of the Ionian sandy shores of Sicily by trace metals. We also come to the conclusion that in the northern sites, pollution originates from volcanic emission while anthropogenic influence prevails in the southern ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erminia Conti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Catania University, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy.
| | - Sandro Dattilo
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, Section of Catania, National Research Council of Italy, Via Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanni Costa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Catania University, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Concetto Puglisi
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, Section of Catania, National Research Council of Italy, Via Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy
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Acosta-González A, Martirani-von Abercron SM, Rosselló-Móra R, Wittich RM, Marqués S. The effect of oil spills on the bacterial diversity and catabolic function in coastal sediments: a case study on the Prestige oil spill. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:15200-14. [PMID: 25869434 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4458-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The accident of the Prestige oil tanker in 2002 contaminated approximately 900 km of the coastline along the northern Spanish shore, as well as parts of Portugal and France coast, with a mixture of heavy crude oil consisting of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, alkanes, asphaltenes and resins. The capacity of the autochthonous bacterial communities to respond to the oil spill was assessed indirectly by determining the hydrocarbon profiles of weathered oil samples collected along the shore, as well as through isotope ratios of seawater-dissolved CO2, and directly by analyses of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprints and 16S rRNA gene libraries. Overall, the results evidenced biodegradation of crude oil components mediated by natural bacterial communities, with a bias towards lighter and less substituted compounds. The changes observed in the Proteobacteria, the most abundant phylum in marine sediments, were related to the metabolic profiles of the sediment. The presence of crude oil in the supratidal and intertidal zones increased the abundance of Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria, dominated by the groups Sphingomonadaceae, Rhodobacteraceae and Chromatiales, whilst Gamma- and Deltaproteobacteria were more relevant in subtidal zones. The phylum Actinobacteria, and particularly the genus Rhodococcus, was a key player in the microbial response to the spill, especially in the degradation of the alkane fraction. The addition of inorganic fertilizers enhanced total biodegradation rates, suggesting that, in these environments, nutrients were insufficient to support significant growth after the huge increase in carbon sources, as evidenced in other spills. The presence of bacterial communities able to respond to a massive oil input in this area was consistent with the important history of pollution of the region by crude oil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Acosta-González
- Department of Environmental Protection, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Profesor Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de La Sabana, Autopista Norte km 7, Chía, Cundinamarca, Colombia
| | - Sophie-Marie Martirani-von Abercron
- Department of Environmental Protection, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Profesor Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain
| | - Ramon Rosselló-Móra
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB, C/. Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Regina-Michaela Wittich
- Department of Environmental Protection, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Profesor Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain
| | - Silvia Marqués
- Department of Environmental Protection, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Profesor Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The north-west coast of Spain was heavily contaminated by the Prestige oil spill, in 2002. Individuals who participated in the clean-up tasks showed increased chromosome damage two years after exposure. Long-term clinical implications of chromosome damage are still unknown. OBJECTIVE To realize a follow-up genotoxic study to detect whether the chromosome damage persisted six years after exposure to the oil. DESIGN Follow-up study. SETTING Fishermen cooperatives in coastal villages. PARTICIPANTS Local fishermen who were highly exposed (n = 52) and non-exposed (n = 23) to oil seven years after the spill. MEASUREMENTS Chromosome damage in circulating lymphocytes. RESULTS Chromosome damage in exposed individuals persists six years after oil exposure, with a similar incidence than those previously detected four years before. A surprising increase in chromosome damage in non-exposed individual was found six years after Prestige spill vs. those detected two years after the exposure. LIMITATIONS The sample size and the possibility of some kind of selection bias should be considered. Genotoxic results cannot be extrapolated to the approximately 300,000 individuals who participated occasionally in clean-up tasks. CONCLUSION The persistence of chromosome damage detected in exposed individuals six years after oil exposure seems to indicate that the cells of the bone marrow are affected. A surprising increase in chromosome damage in non-exposed individuals detected in the follow-up study suggests an indirect exposition of these individuals to some oil compounds or to other toxic agents during the last four years. More long-term studies are needed to confirm the presence of chromosome damage in exposed and non-exposed fishermen due to the association between increased chromosomal damage and increased risk of cancer. Understanding and detecting chromosome damage is important for detecting cancer in its early stages. The present work is the first follow-up cytogenetic study carried out in lymphocytes to determine genotoxic damage evolution between two and six years after oil exposure in same individuals.
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Sevilla E, Yuste L, Rojo F. Marine hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria as whole-cell biosensors for n-alkanes. Microb Biotechnol 2015; 8:693-706. [PMID: 25874658 PMCID: PMC4476824 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole-cell biosensors offer potentially useful, cost-effective systems for the in-situ monitoring of seawater for hydrocarbons derived from accidental spills. The present work compares the performance of a biosensor system for the detection of alkanes in seawater, hosted in either Escherichia coli (commonly employed in whole-cell biosensors but not optimized for alkane assimilation) or different marine bacteria specialized in assimilating alkanes. The sensor system was based on the Pseudomonas putida AlkS regulatory protein and the PalkB promoter fused to a gene encoding the green fluorescent protein. While the E. coli sensor provided the fastest response to pure alkanes (25-fold induction after 2 h under the conditions used), a sensor based on Alcanivorax borkumensis was slower, requiring 3–4 h to reach similar induction values. However, the A. borkumensis sensor showed a fourfold lower detection threshold for octane (0.5 μM), and was also better at sensing the alkanes present in petrol. At petrol concentrations of 0.0125%, the A. borkumensis sensor rendered a sevenfold induction, while E. coli sensor showed no response. We discuss possible explanations to this behaviour in terms of the cellular adaptations to alkane uptake and the basal fluorescence produced by each bacterial strain, which was lowest for A. borkumensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Sevilla
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Luis Yuste
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Fernando Rojo
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain
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16
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Jörundsdóttir HÓ, Jensen S, Hylland K, Holth TF, Gunnlaugsdóttir H, Svavarsson J, Olafsdóttir Á, El-Taliawy H, Rigét F, Strand J, Nyberg E, Bignert A, Hoydal KS, Halldórsson HP. Pristine Arctic: background mapping of PAHs, PAH metabolites and inorganic trace elements in the North-Atlantic Arctic and sub-Arctic coastal environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 493:719-728. [PMID: 24995638 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Revised: 06/10/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
As the ice cap of the Arctic diminishes due to global warming, the polar sailing route will be open larger parts of the year. These changes are likely to increase the pollution load on the pristine Arctic due to large vessel traffic from specific contaminant groups, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A well-documented baseline for PAH concentrations in the biota in the remote regions of the Nordic Seas and the sub-Arctic is currently limited, but will be vital in order to assess future changes in PAH contamination in the region. Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) were collected from remote sites in Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway and Sweden as well as from urban sites in the same countries for comparison. Cod (Gadus morhua) was caught north of Iceland and along the Norwegian coast. Sixteen priority PAH congeners and the inorganic trace elements arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead were analysed in the blue mussel samples as well as PAH metabolites in cod bile. Σ16PAHs ranged from 28 ng/g dry weight (d.w.) (Álftafjörður, NW Iceland) to 480 ng/g d.w. (Ísafjörður, NW Iceland). Mussel samples from Mjóifjörður, East Iceland and Maarmorilik, West Greenland, contained elevated levels of Σ16PAHs, 370 and 280 ng/g d.w., respectively. Levels of inorganic trace elements varied with highest levels of arsenic in mussels from Ísafjörður, Iceland (79 ng/g d.w.), cadmium in mussels from Mjóifjörður, Iceland (4.3 ng/g d.w.), mercury in mussels from Sørenfjorden, Norway (0.23 ng/g d.w.) and lead in mussels from Maarmorilik, Greenland (21 ng/g d.w.). 1-OH-pyrene was only found above limits of quantification (0.5 ng/mL) in samples from the Norwegian coast, ranging between 44 and 140 ng/ml bile. Generally, PAH levels were low in mussels from the remote sites investigated in the study, which indicates limited current effect on the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sophie Jensen
- Matis Ltd., Icelandic Food and Biotech R&D, Vinlandsleid 12, 113 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Ketil Hylland
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Tor Fredrik Holth
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Jörundur Svavarsson
- University of Iceland, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Askja - Natural Science Building, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Ásdís Olafsdóttir
- The University of Iceland´s Research Centre in Sudurnes, Gardvegi 1, 245 Sandgerdi, Iceland
| | - Haitham El-Taliawy
- Matis Ltd., Icelandic Food and Biotech R&D, Vinlandsleid 12, 113 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Frank Rigét
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jakob Strand
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Elisabeth Nyberg
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Bignert
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katrin S Hoydal
- The Faroese Environment Agency, Traðagøta 38, P.O. Box 2048, FO-165 Argir, the Faroe Islands
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17
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Genovese M, Crisafi F, Denaro R, Cappello S, Russo D, Calogero R, Santisi S, Catalfamo M, Modica A, Smedile F, Genovese L, Golyshin PN, Giuliano L, Yakimov MM. Effective bioremediation strategy for rapid in situ cleanup of anoxic marine sediments in mesocosm oil spill simulation. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:162. [PMID: 24782850 PMCID: PMC3995047 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of present study was the simulation of an oil spill accompanied by burial of significant amount of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) in coastal sediments. Approximately 1000 kg of sediments collected in Messina harbor were spiked with Bunker C furnace fuel oil (6500 ppm). The rapid consumption of oxygen by aerobic heterotrophs created highly reduced conditions in the sediments with subsequent recession of biodegradation rates. As follows, after 3 months of ageing, the anaerobic sediments did not exhibit any significant levels of biodegradation and more than 80% of added Bunker C fuel oil remained buried. Anaerobic microbial community exhibited a strong enrichment in sulfate-reducing PHs-degrading and PHs-associated Deltaproteobacteria. As an effective bioremediation strategy to clean up these contaminated sediments, we applied a Modular Slurry System (MSS) allowing the containment of sediments and their physical-chemical treatment, e.g., aeration. Aeration for 3 months has increased the removal of main PHs contaminants up to 98%. As revealed by CARD-FISH, qPCR, and 16S rRNA gene clone library analyses, addition of Bunker C fuel oil initially affected the activity of autochthonous aerobic obligate marine hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OMHCB), and after 1 month more than the third of microbial population was represented by Alcanivorax-, Cycloclasticus-, and Marinobacter-related organisms. In the end of the experiment, the microbial community composition has returned to a status typically observed in pristine marine ecosystems with no detectable OMHCB present. Eco-toxicological bioassay revealed that the toxicity of sediments after treatment was substantially decreased. Thus, our studies demonstrated that petroleum-contaminated anaerobic marine sediments could efficiently be cleaned through an in situ oxygenation which stimulates their self-cleaning potential due to reawakening of allochtonous aerobic OMHCB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Genovese
- Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, CNRMessina, Italy
| | | | - Renata Denaro
- Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, CNRMessina, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Russo
- Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, CNRMessina, Italy
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of MessinaMessina, Italy
| | | | - Santina Santisi
- Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, CNRMessina, Italy
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of MessinaMessina, Italy
| | | | - Alfonso Modica
- Environmental Laboratory, Syndial SpAPriolo Gargallo, Italy
| | | | | | - Peter N. Golyshin
- Environmental Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor UniversityBangor, UK
| | - Laura Giuliano
- Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, CNRMessina, Italy
- Mediterranean Science CommissionMonaco, Monaco
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18
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Reis I, Almeida CMR, Magalhães CM, Cochofel J, Guedes P, Basto MCP, Bordalo AA, Mucha AP. Bioremediation potential of microorganisms from a sandy beach affected by a major oil spill. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 21:3634-3645. [PMID: 24271736 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-2365-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/11/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the bioremediation potential of microorganisms from intertidal sediments of a sandy beach affected by a major oil spill 7 years before and subject to chronic petroleum contamination since then. For that, the response of microorganisms to a new oil contamination was assessed in terms of community structure, abundance, and capacity to degrade hydrocarbons. Experiments were carried out under laboratory-controlled conditions by mixing sediment with crude oil with three different nitrogen supplementations in 50 ml serum bottles under constant shake for 15 days. Autochthonous microorganisms were able to respond to the new oil contamination by increasing their abundance (quantified by DAPI) and changing the community structure (evaluated by DGGE). This response was particularly clear for some specific bacterial groups such as Pseudomonas, Actinomycetales, and Betaproteobacteria. These communities presented an important potential for hydrocarbon degradation (up to 85 % for TPHs and 70 % for total PAHs), being the biodegradation stimulated by addition of an appropriate amount of nitrogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Reis
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal
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19
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Radović JR, Aeppli C, Nelson RK, Jimenez N, Reddy CM, Bayona JM, Albaigés J. Assessment of photochemical processes in marine oil spill fingerprinting. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 79:268-277. [PMID: 24355571 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Revised: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Understanding weathering processes plays a critical role in oil spill forensics, which is based on the comparison of the distributions of selected compounds assumed to be recalcitrant and/or have consistent weathering transformations. Yet, these assumptions are based on limited laboratory and oil-spill studies. With access to additional sites that have been oiled by different types of oils and exposures, there is a great opportunity to expand on our knowledge about these transformations. Here, we demonstrate the effects of photooxidation on the overall composition of spilled oils caused by natural and simulated sunlight, and particularly on the often used polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the biomarker triaromatic steranes (TAS). Both laboratory and field data from oil released from the Macondo well oil following the Deepwater Horizon disaster (2010), and heavy fuel-oil from the Prestige tanker spill (2002) have been obtained to improve the data interpretation of the typical fingerprinting methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagoš R Radović
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona 08034, Spain; Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Christoph Aeppli
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME 04544, USA
| | - Robert K Nelson
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Núria Jimenez
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Stilleweg 2, Hannover D-30655, Germany
| | - Christopher M Reddy
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Josep M Bayona
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Joan Albaigés
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona 08034, Spain.
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20
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Moyo S, McCrindle R, Mokgalaka N, Myburgh J, Mujuru M. Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from polluted rivers. PURE APPL CHEM 2013. [DOI: 10.1351/pac-con-12-10-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Over the past few decades, in response to growing concerns about the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on human health, a variety of environmental forensics and geochemical techniques have emerged for studying organic pollutants. These techniques include chemical fingerprinting, receptor modeling, and compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA). Chemical fingerprinting methodology involves the use of diagnostic ratios. Receptor modeling techniques include the chemical mass balance (CMB) model and multivariate statistics. Multivariate techniques include factor analysis with multiple linear regression (FA/MLR), positive matrix factorization (PMF), and UNMIX. This article reviews applications of chemical fingerprinting, receptor modeling, and CSIA; comments on their uses; and contrasts the strengths and weaknesses of each methodology.
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21
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Pontes J, Mucha AP, Santos H, Reis I, Bordalo A, Basto MC, Bernabeu A, Almeida CMR. Potential of bioremediation for buried oil removal in beaches after an oil spill. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2013; 76:258-265. [PMID: 24054785 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2013] [Revised: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Bioremediation potential for buried oil removal, an application still lacking thorough research, was assessed in a specifically designed system in which an artificially contaminated oil layer of sand was buried in a sand column subjected to tidal simulation. The efficiency of biostimulation (BS, fertilizer addition) and bioaugmentation (BA, inoculation of pre-stimulated indigenous hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms plus fertilizer) compared to natural attenuation was tested during a 180-day experimental period. The effect of BA was evident after 60 days (degradation of hydrocarbons reached 80%). BS efficacy was revealed only after 120 days. Microorganisms and nutrients added at the top of the sand column were able to reach the buried oil layer and contributed to faster oil elimination, an important feature for effective bioremediation treatments. Therefore, autochthonous BA with suitable nutritive conditions results in faster oil-biodegradation, appears to be a cost-effective methodology for buried oil remediation and contributes to the recovery of oil-impacted areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Pontes
- CIMAR/CIIMAR, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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22
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Crego-Prieto V, Danancher D, Campo D, Perez J, Garcia-Vazquez E, Roca A. Interspecific introgression and changes in population structure in a flatfish species complex after the Prestige accident. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2013; 74:42-49. [PMID: 23932420 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2013] [Revised: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Oil spills cause aggressive impacts on marine ecosystems affecting immense areas and the species inhabiting them. If wastes are not cleaned up properly, the remnants may affect local populations for a long time. This work focuses on the long-term impacts of the Prestige spillage that occurred off Galician coast (Spain) in November 2002. Model species were two sympatric flatfish, the megrims Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis and Lepidorhombus boscii. Samples obtained before and nine years after the Prestige accident from affected and unaffected areas were genotyped for six hypervariable nuclear markers and for the mitochondrial D-loop sequence. The results revealed a high proportion of post-F1 interspecific hybrids in the area affected, and also increased intraspecific population differentiation likely due to such localized introgression of foreign genes. These changes suggest the appearance of a hybrid zone following the accident and emphasize the need of paying special attention to potential evolutionary impacts of oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Crego-Prieto
- University of Oviedo, Department of Functional Biology. C/ Julian Claveria s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
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23
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Laffon B, Aguilera F, Ríos-Vázquez J, García-Lestón J, Fuchs D, Valdiglesias V, Pásaro E. Endocrine and immunological parameters in individuals involved in Prestige spill cleanup tasks seven years after the exposure. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2013; 59:103-111. [PMID: 23792419 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Revised: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/27/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In November 2002 the oil tanker Prestige spilled 63,000tonnes of heavy oil off the northwest coast of Spain, impacting more than 1000km of coastline. A general concern led to a huge mobilization of human and technical resources, and more than 300,000 people participated in cleanup activities, which lasted up to 10months. Some endocrine and immunological alterations were reported in Prestige oil exposed subjects for several months. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate if these alterations are still present seven years after the exposure. Fifty-four individuals exposed for at least 2months were compared to 50 matched referents. Prolactin and cortisol plasma concentrations, percentages of lymphocyte subsets (CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD19(+), and CD56(+)16(+)), plasma levels of circulating cytokines (interleukin (IL) 2, IL4, IL6, IL10, tumour necrosis factor α, and interferon γ), and serum concentrations of neopterin, tryptophan and kynurenine were determined in peripheral blood samples. Results showed significant differences in exposed individuals vs. referents only in cortisol (increase), kynurenine and %CD16(+)56(+) lymphocytes (both decrease). Time of exposure to the oil or using protective clothes did not influence the results, but effect of using protective mask was observed on neopterin, %CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and IL4. Surveillance of the exposed individuals for early detection of possible health problems related to the endocrine or immunological systems is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Laffon
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Psychobiology, University of A Coruña, Edificio de Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Campus Elviña s/n, 15071-A Coruña, Spain.
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24
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Marta-Almeida M, Ruiz-Villarreal M, Pereira J, Otero P, Cirano M, Zhang X, Hetland RD. Efficient tools for marine operational forecast and oil spill tracking. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2013; 71:139-151. [PMID: 23643409 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2012] [Revised: 02/25/2013] [Accepted: 03/17/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Ocean forecasting and oil spill modelling and tracking are complex activities requiring specialised institutions. In this work we present a lighter solution based on the Operational Ocean Forecast Python Engine (OOFε) and the oil spill model General NOAA Operational Modelling Environment (GNOME). These two are robust relocatable and simple to implement and maintain. Implementations of the operational engine in three different regions with distinct oceanic systems, using the ocean model Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS), are described, namely the Galician region, the southeastern Brazilian waters and the Texas-Louisiana shelf. GNOME was able to simulate the fate of the Prestige oil spill (Galicia) and compared well with observations of the Krimsk accident (Texas). Scenarios of hypothetical spills in Campos Basin (Brazil) are illustrated, evidencing the sensitiveness to the dynamical system. OOFε and GNOME are proved to be valuable, efficient and low cost tools and can be seen as an intermediate stage towards more complex operational implementations of ocean forecasting and oil spill modelling strategies.
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25
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Bernabeu AM, Fernández-Fernández S, Bouchette F, Rey D, Arcos A, Bayona JM, Albaiges J. Recurrent arrival of oil to Galician coast: the final step of the Prestige deep oil spill. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2013; 250-251:82-90. [PMID: 23434483 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.01.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2012] [Revised: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Yearly monitoring in one of the most affected coastal zones by the Prestige oil spill, namely Nemiña and O Rostro beaches (NW Spain), has been carried out since 2004. Topographic data of beaches revealed seasonal altimetric changes up to 4m that would prevent the on shore persistence of oil. However, surficial and subsurficial oil was detected in the intertidal area of both beaches in all campaigns. The hydrocarbon analysis confirmed that this oil corresponded to the Prestige oil, even nine years after the accident. Tar balls were highly biodegraded suggesting that the oil was accumulated on the subtidal sediments for a long time and transported to the coast by the action of waves. The present work provides new evidence of the long term persistence of deep oil spills from wrecks in marine areas where the hydrodynamic conditions play a twofold key role, in determining the exposed coastal area to recurrent contamination and in burying and resurfacing the oil in the intertidal zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Bernabeu
- GEOMA.NET, Dpt. Geociencias Marinas, Universidad de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
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26
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Oyo-Ita OE, Oyo-Ita IO. PAH depositional history and sources in recent sediment core from Ukwa Ibom Lake, S. E. Nigeria. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2013; 35:185-199. [PMID: 22821212 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-012-9475-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2011] [Accepted: 06/20/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Analyses of recent sediment core from the Ukwa Ibom Lake show evidence of aquatic production, terrigenous, combustion and petroleum inputs. Total organic carbon/total nitrogen values (>10) for the sediments indicate greater wash-in of land-plant organic matter relative to algal production. The characteristic combustion ratios, fluoranthene/fluoranthene + pyrene (>0.50), anthracene/anthracene + phenanthrene (>0.10), benzo(a)anthracene/benzo(a)anthracene + chrysene (>0.35) as well as 1,7/1,7 + 2,6-dimethylphenanthrene (>0.70) were observed for the top section only. These results coincided with the most recent pave-road extension exercise involving tree logging and burning of bush. The highest total PAH concentration (91.13 ng/g dry weight (dw)) observed for the bottom section coincided with the period of inhabitation of the lake catchments (~5 decades ago) when discharge to the Lake water of domestic sewage and mill waste water were prevalent. The regular decline in total PAH concentrations upcore is a reflection of the ban placed on indiscriminate dumping of wastes following relocation of the inhabitants of the catchments. Besides the local depositional history, the irregular decrease in unresolved complex mixture (UCM) profiles suggests regional contaminant influx from the adjacent upper Cross River estuary, especially during intense rainfall event. The non-uniformity in methylphenanthrene indices (MPI-1 and MPI-2) shows evidence of importation and utilization of petroleum products of different thermal maturity histories into the Nigerian economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- O E Oyo-Ita
- Pure and Applied Chemistry Department, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
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27
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Albaigés J, Jimenez N, Arcos A, Dominguez C, Bayona JM. The use of long-chain alkylbenzenes and alkyltoluenes for fingerprinting marine oil wastes. CHEMOSPHERE 2013; 91:336-343. [PMID: 23266408 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.11.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Revised: 11/23/2012] [Accepted: 11/24/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Petroleum long-chain alkylbenzenes and alkyltoluenes are characterized and used for chemical fingerprinting of marine oil spills. Their distributions, extending from C10 to C35 can be used for a general oil type classification. Moreover, the relative distributions of specific components, namely the 3-methyl and 2-methyl-1-alkylbenzenes (m- and o-isomers), and the aryl isoprenoid 1-methyl-3-phytanylbenzene, are proposed as diagnostic markers for source identification. This approach has been exemplified in two case studies involving the spill of bilge oils, where a preliminary screening of the potential source was obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Albaigés
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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Neuparth T, Moreira SM, Santos MM, Reis-Henriques MA. Review of oil and HNS accidental spills in Europe: identifying major environmental monitoring gaps and drawing priorities. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2012; 64:1085-1095. [PMID: 22498315 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2011] [Revised: 03/13/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The European Atlantic area has been the scene of a number of extensive shipping incidents with immediate and potential long-term impacts to marine ecosystems. The occurrence of accidental spills at sea requires an effective response that must include a well executed monitoring programme to assess the environmental contamination and damage of the affected marine habitats. Despite a number of conventions and protocols developed by international and national authorities that focused on the preparedness and response to oil and HNS spills, much remains to be done, particularly in relation to the effectiveness of the environmental monitoring programmes implemented after oil and HNS spills. Hence, the present study reviews the status of the environmental monitoring programmes established following the major spill incidents over the last years in European waters, aiming at identifying the key monitoring gaps and drawing priorities for an effective environmental monitoring of accidental spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Neuparth
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 177, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
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Acosta-González A, Rosselló-Móra R, Marqués S. Characterization of the anaerobic microbial community in oil-polluted subtidal sediments: aromatic biodegradation potential after thePrestigeoil spill. Environ Microbiol 2012; 15:77-92. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02782.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Crego-Prieto V, Martinez JL, Roca A, Garcia-Vazquez E. Interspecific hybridization increased in congeneric flatfishes after the Prestige oil spill. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34485. [PMID: 22511945 PMCID: PMC3325272 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2011] [Accepted: 03/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine species with relatively low migratory capacity are threatened by habitat alterations derived from human activities. In November 2002 the tanker Prestige sank off the Spanish northwest coast releasing 70,000 tons of fuel and damaging biota in the area. Despite efforts to clean the damaged areas, fuel remnants have affected marine species over the last nine years. This study is focused on two flatfish, Lepidorhombus boscii (four-spotted megrim) and L. whiffiagonis (megrim), whose spawning areas are located at the edge of the continental platform. We have analyzed megrim samples from North Spanish and French waters obtained before and after the oil spill. Genotypes at the nuclear marker 5S rDNA indicate a significant increase in interspecific hybridization after the Prestige accident, likely due to forced spawning overlap. The mitochondrial D-Loop region was employed for determining the direction of hybrid crosses, which were most frequently L. boscii female x L. whiffiagonis male. Reduced ability of L. boscii females to select conspecific mates would explain such asymmetric hybridization. To our knowledge this is the first time that increased hybridization between fish species can be associated to an oil spill. These results illustrate the potential long-term effect of petrol wastes on wild fish species.
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Lagring R, Degraer S, de Montpellier G, Jacques T, Van Roy W, Schallier R. Twenty years of Belgian North Sea aerial surveillance: a quantitative analysis of results confirms effectiveness of international oil pollution legislation. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2012; 64:644-652. [PMID: 22226788 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Revised: 11/25/2011] [Accepted: 11/30/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Over the years many policy measures have been taken to prevent illegal oil discharges from ships, like the MARPOL 73/78 Convention (1983) and the Bonn Agreement (1969/1983). However, the number of discharges remained high, leading to chronic oiling of seabirds and sensitive coastlines, therefore further measures were taken. The aim of this study is to quantify the effectiveness of two key legislative regulations: the IMO-designation of the North Sea as MARPOL Special Area which took effect in 1999, and the adoption of the EU Directive on Port Reception Facilities in 2000. Under study is the heavily navigated Belgian Surveillance Area, monitored since 1991, characterised by shallow waters with ecologically important sandbanks. The aerial surveillance data from 1991 to 2010 show a stepwise decrease in ship-source oil pollution. Three time periods can be distinguished with two turning points coinciding with the actual implementation of these key legislative measures, confirming their effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Lagring
- Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Gulledelle 100, Brussels, Belgium
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Sueiro RA, Garrido MJ, Araujo M. Mutagenic assessment of Prestige fuel oil spilled on the shore and submitted to field trials of bioremediation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2011; 409:4973-4978. [PMID: 21924457 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2010] [Revised: 08/04/2011] [Accepted: 08/11/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The mutagenicy of the slightly weathered fuel oil from the Prestige oil spill and the effects of different bioremediation products (nutrients and/or microorganisms and biodiesel) on the potential mutagenic activity of this heavy fuel oil spilled on the shore were evaluated for a period of 1 year using the Ames Salmonella assay with strains TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1537 in the absence and presence of exogenous metabolic activation (S9 fraction from rat liver). The in situ bioremediation experiment was performed using tiles located in the supra-littoral and intertidal zones of a beach seriously affected by the fuel oil spill. The results obtained showed the mutagenic activity of the slightly weathered fuel oil extracts at the beginning of the experiment in strain TA98 that persisted for more than 150 days in both the untreated control and treated tiles independently of the zone of the beach considered. However, after 360 days neither the control nor the treated tiles in the intertidal zone showed mutagenic activity and a weak positive response in strain TA98 was detected for the control fuel oil extracts from supra-littoral tiles. The application of biodiesel to accelerate the biodegradation of this type of fuel oil may constitute a further genotoxic hazard to the environment, since the mutagenic response achieved from the biodiesel-fuel oil mixture in the first samplings (days 0 and 30) was more potent than that obtained from the control tiles. The mutagenic activity was detected along the study with S. typhimurium TA98 in both the presence and absence of S9 microsomal fraction, but the addition of S9 fraction in the assay always increased the number of revertants induced. In general, these findings suggest that the bioremediation strategies used were not effective in eliminating the genotoxic hazard associated with this heavy fuel oil attached to rocky substrate since they did not achieve a decrease in the mutagenic response with respect to the untreated control tiles. These data also confirm that genotoxicity assays should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of bioremediation efforts associated with oil spills for a better risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Ana Sueiro
- Laboratorio de Microbioloxía, Instituto de Investigación e Análises Alimentarias, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Garmendia L, Izagirre U, Cajaraville MP, Marigómez I. Application of a battery of biomarkers in mussel digestive gland to assess long-term effects of the Prestige oil spill in Galicia and the Bay of Biscay: lysosomal responses. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 13:901-14. [PMID: 21290064 DOI: 10.1039/c0em00409j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In order to assess the long-term lysosomal responses to the Prestige oil spill (POS), mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, were collected in 22 localities from Galicia and the Bay of Biscay (North Iberian peninsula) in July, and September 2003, April, July, and October 2004-2005 and April 2006. Lysosomal membrane stability (labilisation period, LP) and lysosomal structural changes (lysosomal volume density, Vv(L) and lysosomal surface-to-volume ratio, S/V(L)) were measured as general stress biomarkers. The most remarkable long-term effects after the POS were drastic changes in lysosomal size (lysosomal enlargement) and membrane stability (extremely low LP values) up to April-04. Later on, a recovery trend was envisaged all along the studied area after July-04, albeit membrane stability continued to be below 20 min throughout the studied period up to April-06, which indicates a "distress-to-moderate-stress" condition. Lysosomal Response Index (LRI) revealed that environmental stress was more marked in Galicia than in the Bay of Biscay, mainly in the first sampling year, although a "moderate-to-high-stress" condition persisted until July-05. Overall, although lysosomal size returned to reference values, membrane stability was not fully recovered indicating a stress situation throughout the studied period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larraitz Garmendia
- Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Zoology & Cell Biology Dept, Science & Technology Faculty, University of Basque Country, Zientzia eta Teknologia Fakultatea, UPV/EHU. Sarriena auzoa Z/G, 48940 Leioa-Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain
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Garmendia L, Soto M, Vicario U, Kim Y, Cajaraville MP, Marigómez I. Application of a battery of biomarkers in mussel digestive gland to assess long-term effects of the Prestige oil spill in Galicia and Bay of Biscay: tissue-level biomarkers and histopathology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 13:915-32. [PMID: 21290065 DOI: 10.1039/c0em00410c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In order to assess the biological effects of the Prestige oil spill (POS), mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, were collected in 22 localities along the North coast of the Iberian Peninsula over 3 years (April 2003-April 2006). Different tissue-level biomarkers including cell type composition (volume density of basophilic cells, Vv(BAS)) in digestive gland epithelium, structural changes of digestive alveoli (mean luminal radius to mean epithelial thickness, MLR/MET) and histopathological alterations (prevalence and intensity) of the digestive gland were analysed. Severe alterations in the general condition of the digestive gland tissue were observed all over the study area up to 2004-2005. High Vv(BAS) values were recorded mainly in Galicia but also to a lesser extent in the Bay of Biscay in 2003-2004. Atrophy of the digestive alveoli, measured in terms of MLR/MET, was detected all along the studied area up to 2006. Inflammatory responses cannot be related to pollution due to the POS: (a) prevalence and intensity of focal hemocytic infiltration were higher in the Bay of Biscay than in Galicia but they did not show a clear temporal trend; (b) high intensities of brown cell aggregates were only sporadically recorded; and (c) granulocytomas were more frequently recorded in the Bay of Biscay than in Galicia and especially in localities (i.e. Arrigunaga) subjected to chronic pollution. Likewise, Marteilia, trematodes, intracellular ciliates, unidentified eosinophilic bodies, R/CLO and Mytilicola did not follow any recognisable pattern that could be associated to the POS. In contrast, high Nematopsis intensities recorded in several localities in 2003 might suggest some response of local interest after the POS (i.e., in combination with particular factors/conditions). More data at a regional scale are needed before histopathology may provide a reliable ecosystem health assessment but the present results suggest that the approach is worthwhile. Overall, although Vv(BAS) returned to reference values by 2004-2005, MLR/MET values indicated that the mussel health condition was affected during the whole study period up to April 2006.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larraitz Garmendia
- Cell Biology in Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Zoology & Cell Biology Dept, Science & Technology Faculty, University of Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Sarriena auzoa Z/G, 48940 Leioa-Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain
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Garmendia L, Soto M, Ortiz-Zarragoitia M, Orbea A, Cajaraville MP, Marigómez I. Application of a battery of biomarkers in mussel digestive gland to assess long-term effects of the Prestige oil spill in Galicia and Bay of Biscay: Correlation and multivariate analysis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 13:933-42. [DOI: 10.1039/c0em00704h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Fernández-Tajes J, Rábade T, Laffon B, Méndez J. Monitoring follow up of two areas affected by the Prestige oil four years after the spillage. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2011; 74:1067-1075. [PMID: 21707430 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2011.582312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The sinking of the oil tanker Prestige in November 2002 resulted in the spill of more than 63,000 tonnes of crude oil, and polluted more than 1,000 km of coastline, especially affecting Galicia (northwestern Spain). Four years after the accident, a new biological monitoring study was undertaken of two Galician areas intensely affected by the spill, Lira and Ancoradoiro, previously evaluated in the months following the accident ( Laffon et al. 2006 ). The mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was employed as bioindicator organism to determine both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) levels and genotoxic effects. PAH were determined chromatographically in seawater samples and mussel tissues collected from November 2006 to January 2008. The results obtained showed that PAH pollution was still present in these areas, but bioaccumulation of these compounds in mussels was low, compared to reference mussels, and lower than in our previous study. DNA damage assessment was also performed in gills and hemolymph cells by means of the alkaline comet assay. DNA damage levels were higher in mussels from the exposed areas than in reference mussels. DNA damage decreased after a 7-d recovery period in the laboratory, but prolonging the recovery period up to 14 d did not contribute to less DNA damage in gill cells. Hemolymph cells were more sensitive than gill cells to the induction of DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Fernández-Tajes
- Deptartment of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
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37
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Ortiz-Zarragoitia M, Garmendia L, Barbero MC, Serrano T, Marigómez I, Cajaraville MP. Effects of the fuel oil spilled by the Prestige tanker on reproduction parameters of wild mussel populations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 13:84-94. [DOI: 10.1039/c0em00102c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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38
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Bouzid S, Khannous S, Bouloubassi I, Saliot A, Raioui HE. Assessment of the Moroccan Mediterranean Coasts Contamination by Hydrocarbons (Non Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Linear Alkylbenzenes). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2011.24059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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39
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Elordui-Zapatarietxe S, Rosell-Melé A, Moraleda N, Tolosa I, Albaigés J. Phase distribution of hydrocarbons in the water column after a pelagic deep ocean oil spill. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2010; 60:1667-1673. [PMID: 20673676 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2010] [Revised: 06/30/2010] [Accepted: 07/06/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Spills from wrecks are a potential major source of pollution in the deep ocean. However, not much is known about the fate of a spill at several kilometers depth, beyond the oceans continental shelves. Here, we report the phase distribution of hydrocarbons released from the wrecks of the Prestige tanker, several years after it sank in November 2002 to depths between 3500 and 3800 m. The released oil reached the surface waters above the wrecks without any signs of weathering and leaving an homogenous signature throughout the water column. At depths of several kilometers below the sea surface, the occurrence and spread of the deep sea oil spill could be evaluated better by quantifying and characterizing the dissolved hydrocarbon signature, rather than just the investigation of hydrocarbons in the suspended particulate matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saioa Elordui-Zapatarietxe
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Catalonia, Spain
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40
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Viñas L, Angeles Franco M, Antonio Soriano J, José González J, Pon J, Albaigés J. Sources and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from the Spanish northern continental shelf. Assessment of spatial and temporal trends. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2010; 158:1551-1560. [PMID: 20080325 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2009] [Revised: 12/09/2009] [Accepted: 12/11/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was determined in surface sediments collected at 36 stations along the Spanish Northern continental shelf in March and September 2003, and February 2005. Concentrations of PAHs (Sigma13 parent components) were in the range of 22-47528 mug/kg dw, the highest values corresponding to coastal urban-industrial hotspots and decreasing offshore. Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) showed that concentrations of total PAHs were below the threshold effect level (TEC) in 27 stations (81%) and above in 7, two of which (Gijon and Bilbao) were above the probable effect concentration (PEC). The detailed study of diagnostic ratios suggested a rather uniform mixture of petrogenic and pyrolytic PAH sources along the continental shelf, with a slight decrease of the latter moving westwards and offshore. In order to assess the incidence of sediment sampling on the variability of the results, selected stations were also monitored in February and September 2004 and September 2005. The average field variance of the values obtained for each station was 31% that decreased to 23% when the values were normalized to TOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Viñas
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Cabo Estai - Canido, 36200 Vigo, Spain.
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41
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Guitart R, Sachana M, Caloni F, Croubels S, Vandenbroucke V, Berny P. Animal poisoning in Europe. Part 3: Wildlife. Vet J 2010; 183:260-5. [PMID: 19423367 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2008] [Revised: 03/25/2009] [Accepted: 03/27/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This review article is the third in a series on animal poisoning in Europe and represents a collation of published and non-published wildlife poisoning data from Belgium, France, Greece, Italy and Spain over the last 10 years. Birds, particularly waterfowl and raptors, were more commonly reported as victims of poisoning than wild mammals. In addition to specific but important toxicological disasters, deliberate primary or secondary poisonings are of concern to all countries. Metals (particularly lead arising from sporting/hunting activities) and pesticides (mainly anticholinesterases and anticoagulants) are frequent causes of poisoning, and often have fatal consequences. A more unified and consistent approach throughout European countries to improve the reporting and the analytical confirmation of wildlife poisoning would help to reduce the number of cases of malicious or negligent animal poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raimon Guitart
- Unit of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
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Rogowska J, Namieśnik J. Environmental implications of oil spills from shipping accidents. REVIEWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2010; 206:95-114. [PMID: 20652670 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-6260-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Since ancient times, ships have sunk during storms, either as a result of collisions with other vessels or running onto rocks. However, the ever-increasing importance of crude oil in the twentieth century and the corresponding growth in the world's tanker fleet have drawn attention to the negative implications of sea transport. Disasters involving tankers like the Torrey Canyon or the Amoco Cadiz have shown how dramatic the consequences of such an accident may be. The effects of oil spills at sea depend on numerous factors, such as the physicochemical parameters of the oil, the characteristics of the environment affected, and the physical, chemical, and biological processes occurring there, such as evaporation, dissolution, dispersion, emulsification, photo-oxidation, biodegradation, and sedimentation. The combination of these processes reduces the concentrations of hydrocarbons in sediments and water and alters the chemical composition of spilled oils. In every case, oil spills pose a danger to fauna and flora and cause damage to sea and shores ecosystems. Many of the petroleum-related chemicals that are spilled are toxic, otherwise carcinogenic or can be bioaccumulated in the tissues of marine organisms. Such chemicals may then be biomagnified up the marine food chain from phytoplankton to fish, then to seals and other carnivorous sea mammals. Moreover, oil products can be accumulated and immobilized in bottom deposits for long periods of time. Oil spills are particularly dangerous when they occur in small inland seas that have intense sea traffic, e.g., the Baltic Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Rogowska
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdańsk University of Technology, ul, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
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Alonso-Gutiérrez J, Figueras A, Albaigés J, Jiménez N, Viñas M, Solanas AM, Novoa B. Bacterial communities from shoreline environments (costa da morte, northwestern Spain) affected by the prestige oil spill. Appl Environ Microbiol 2009; 75:3407-18. [PMID: 19376924 PMCID: PMC2687268 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01776-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2008] [Accepted: 03/26/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial communities in two different shoreline matrices, rocks and sand, from the Costa da Morte, northwestern Spain, were investigated 12 months after being affected by the Prestige oil spill. Culture-based and culture-independent approaches were used to compare the bacterial diversity present in these environments with that at a nonoiled site. A long-term effect of fuel on the microbial communities in the oiled sand and rock was suggested by the higher proportion of alkane and polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degraders and the differences in denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis patterns compared with those of the reference site. Members of the classes Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the prevailing groups of bacteria detected in both matrices, although the sand bacterial community exhibited higher species richness than the rock bacterial community did. Culture-dependent and -independent approaches suggested that the genus Rhodococcus could play a key role in the in situ degradation of the alkane fraction of the Prestige fuel together with other members of the suborder Corynebacterineae. Moreover, other members of this suborder, such as Mycobacterium spp., together with Sphingomonadaceae bacteria (mainly Lutibacterium anuloederans), were related as well to the degradation of the aromatic fraction of the Prestige fuel. The multiapproach methodology applied in the present study allowed us to assess the complexity of autochthonous microbial communities related to the degradation of heavy fuel from the Prestige and to isolate some of their components for a further physiological study. Since several Corynebacterineae members related to the degradation of alkanes and PAHs were frequently detected in this and other supralittoral environments affected by the Prestige oil spill along the northwestern Spanish coast, the addition of mycolic acids to bioremediation amendments is proposed to favor the presence of these degraders in long-term fuel pollution-affected areas with similar characteristics.
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MESH Headings
- Alkenes/metabolism
- Bacteria/classification
- Bacteria/genetics
- Bacteria/isolation & purification
- Biodegradation, Environmental
- Biodiversity
- Cluster Analysis
- DNA Fingerprinting
- DNA, Bacterial/chemistry
- DNA, Bacterial/genetics
- DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry
- DNA, Ribosomal/genetics
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- Geologic Sediments/microbiology
- Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/metabolism
- Mineral Oil
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Nucleic Acid Denaturation
- Phylogeny
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Spain
- Water Pollution, Chemical
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Bernabeu AM, Rey D, Rubio B, Vilas F, Domínguez C, Bayona JM, Albaigés J. Assessment of cleanup needs of oiled sandy beaches: lessons from the Prestige oil spill. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2009; 43:2470-2475. [PMID: 19452903 DOI: 10.1021/es803209h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Surveys of the oiled sandy beaches along the northern Atlantic coast of Spain, 2-5 years after the Prestige oil spill of November 2002, have provided new evidence regarding buried fuel and its behavior. The persistence and depth of burial of oil, and the capacity of the beach for natural regeneration, depend on beach morphodynamics, which drive a sequence of physicochemical processes that reduce subsurface tar balls to highly divided oil forms while also allowing appreciable weathering despite burial. These findings prompted reassessment of current spill evaluation strategies. A protocol is proposed that combines the modeling of beach morphodynamics, an environmentally friendly coring survey, and well-calibrated hydrocarbon analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Bernabeu
- GEOMA, Marine and Environmental Geology Group, Department of Marine Geosciences, Universidad de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
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45
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Viñas L, Franco MA, Soriano JA, González JJ, Ortiz L, Bayona JM, Albaigés J. Accumulation trends of petroleum hydrocarbons in commercial shellfish from the Galician coast (NW Spain) affected by the Prestige oil spill. CHEMOSPHERE 2009; 75:534-541. [PMID: 19150729 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2008] [Accepted: 12/03/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were determined in three species of commercial shellfish, namely razor shells (Ensis arcuatus and Ensis siliqua), goose barnacle (Pollicipes cornucopia) and sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus), living in different habitats and exhibiting different feeding behaviors. The samples were collected monthly, from January 2003 to October 2004, in three stations of the Galicia coast (NW Spain), following the Prestige oil spill, with the aim of assessing their response to the spill and, therefore, their suitability for monitoring purposes. The aliphatic fractions were mostly dominated by biogenic hydrocarbons, reflecting the diet composition of the organisms and their low metabolic capacity. The presence of oil was assessed by the determination of chemical markers. The analysis of the aromatic fractions revealed the occurrence of 3-6 ring parent and alkylated PAHs, consistent with a mixed petrogenic-pyrolytic origin, with the common feature of the predominance of chrysene in all samples collected after the spill. However, the distributions exhibited both temporal and interspecies variations. The PAH concentrations (Sigma13) increased significantly after the spill and decreased 6-7 months later close to background levels for the region. One year after the accident, the median values were: 58 microg/kg for razor shells, 26 microg/kg for barnacles, and 25 microg/kg for sea urchins. The temporal evolution of the PAH concentrations along the survey period was used to estimate loss rates for bioavailable PAHs in barnacles and sea urchins after the spill. Half-life values were in the order of 30 and 60 d, respectively. The results of the study demonstrate that barnacles can be suitable species for oil spill monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Viñas
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Cabo Estai-Canido, 36200 Vigo, Spain.
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Lage-Yusty MA, Alvarez-Pérez S, Punín-Crespo MO. Supercritical fluid extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from seaweed samples before and after the prestige oil spill. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2009; 82:158-161. [PMID: 18654728 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-008-9503-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2007] [Accepted: 07/15/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Samples of seaweed which are used for human consumption were collected along the Galician coast (NW Spain), in order to determine the level of contamination from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, by supercritical fluid extraction and liquid chromatographic analysis. No detection was made of benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[ghi]perylene and dibenzo[ah]anthracene. PAHs were found and quantified in only two samples. The PAHs found were the following: anthracene, chrysene, fluoranthene, fluorene and pyrene. The levels found were below maximum limits established by the Spanish Food Safety authority (<200 mg/kg dry weight). Here we show that no relevant effects were detected in terms of PAHs contamination in seaweed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Lage-Yusty
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Elordui-Zapatarietxe S, Albaigés J, Rosell-Melé A. Fast preparation of the seawater accommodated fraction of heavy fuel oil by sonication. CHEMOSPHERE 2008; 73:1811-1816. [PMID: 18834612 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2008] [Revised: 08/12/2008] [Accepted: 08/13/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The seawater accommodated fraction (SWAF) of oil is widely used for the assessment of its toxicity. However, its preparation in the laboratory is time consuming, and results from different authors are difficult to compare as preparation methods vary. Here we describe a simple and fast set up, using sonication, to produce reproducible SWAF in the laboratory. The system was tested on heavy fuel oil placed on seawater at different salinity and temperature conditions. Maximum dissolution of the oil was achieved after 24h, independently of both seawater salinity and temperature. Our findings are discussed in relation to the fate of the oil from the deep spill of the Prestige tanker. Changes in temperature in the open ocean are bound to have larger impact in the concentration of the SWAF than the corresponding values of sea water salinity. We anticipate that in this type of incident the highest SWAF, as the oil reaches the sea surface, should be expected in the warmest and less saline waters of the water column.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saioa Elordui-Zapatarietxe
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Catalonia, Spain
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Zuazagoitia D, Millán E, Garcia-Arrona R. A Screening Method for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Determination in Sediments by Headspace SPME with GC–FID. Chromatographia 2008. [DOI: 10.1365/s10337-008-0843-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Pérez-Cadahía B, Méndez J, Pásaro E, Lafuente A, Cabaleiro T, Laffon B. Biomonitoring of human exposure to prestige oil: effects on DNA and endocrine parameters. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2008; 2:83-92. [PMID: 21572833 PMCID: PMC3091333 DOI: 10.4137/ehi.s954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Since 1960, about 400 tankers spilled more than 377765 tons of oil, with the Prestige accident (Galician coast, NW Spain, November 2002) the most recent. Taking into account the consistent large number of individuals exposed to oil that exists all over the world, it seems surprising the absence in the literature of studies focused on the chronic effects of this exposure on human health. In this work we evaluated the level of DNA damage by means of comet assay, and the potential endocrine alterations (prolactin and cortisol) caused by Prestige oil exposure in a population of 180 individuals, classified in 3 groups according to the tasks performed, and 60 controls. Heavy metals in blood were determined as exposure biomarkers, obtaining significant increases of aluminum, nickel and lead in the exposed groups as compared to controls. Higher levels of genetic damage and endocrine alterations were also observed in the exposed population. DNA damage levels were influenced by age, sex, and the use of protective clothes, and prolactin concentrations by the last two factors. Surprisingly, the use of mask did not seem to protect individuals from genetic or endocrine alterations. Moreover, polymorphisms in genes encoding for the main enzymes involved in the metabolism of oil components were analyzed as susceptibility biomarkers. CYP1A1-3'UTR and EPHX1 codons 113 and 139 variant alleles were related to higher damage levels, while lower DNA damage was observed in GSTM1 and GSTT1 null individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Pérez-Cadahía
- Toxicology Unit, Dept. Psychobiology, University of A Coruña, Edificio de Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Campus Elviña s/n, 15071-A Coruña, Spain
- Dept. Cell and Molecular Biology, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Josefina Méndez
- Toxicology Unit, Dept. Psychobiology, University of A Coruña, Edificio de Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Campus Elviña s/n, 15071-A Coruña, Spain
| | - Eduardo Pásaro
- Dept. Cell and Molecular Biology, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | | | - Teresa Cabaleiro
- Toxicology Laboratory, University of Vigo, Campus Ourense, Ourense, Spain
| | - Blanca Laffon
- Toxicology Unit, Dept. Psychobiology, University of A Coruña, Edificio de Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Campus Elviña s/n, 15071-A Coruña, Spain
- Dept. Cell and Molecular Biology, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
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Halldórsson HP, De Pirro M, Romano C, Svavarsson J, Sarà G. Immediate biomarker responses to benzo[a]pyrene in polluted and unpolluted populations of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) at high-latitudes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2008; 34:483-489. [PMID: 18063033 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2007.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2007] [Revised: 10/26/2007] [Accepted: 11/06/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Immediate biomarker responses of two high-latitude populations of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were evaluated. Mussels collected from a clean and a polluted site in southwest Iceland were exposed to the nominal dose of 100 microg B[a]P L(-l) for 3 h, after 4 days of acclimatization in clean seawater. To test the sensitivity to the toxicant and immediate biological responses, the following biomarkers were used: DNA single strand breaks, heart rate and feeding rate. All the biomarkers revealed differences between the study sites. Irrespective of the origin of the organisms, the short time exposure to the high B[a]P concentration did not induce DNA single strand breaks or significantly affect the feeding rate. However, the heart rate results showed significantly different responses. The mussels from the polluted site (Reykjavík harbour) increased their heart rate when exposed to B[a]P, while no difference was observed between the heart rate values of the individuals from the clean site (Hvassahraun). The mussels seem to sense the pollutant they have been previously exposed to, and their acute response indicates physiological adaptation to the polluted environment. The results indicate limited sensitivity and temporal predictivity, i.e. transient measurable changes of these biomarkers, as well as showing that the background of the organisms should be considered when evaluating short-term biomarker responses to contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halldór P Halldórsson
- Institute of Biology, University of Iceland, Askja--Natural Science Building, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.
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