A data-driven framework for defining stages of oil weathering.
Mar Pollut Bull
; 154: 111091, 2020 May.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32319920
ABSTRACT
Oil weathering is often described subjectively after a spill. Adjectives like "moderate" and "severe" help define the extent of oil loss but fail to communicate quantitatively and reproducibly the degree of weathering. The use of subjective weathering terms often leads to misperceptions about persistence and toxicity of oil residues in the environment. The weathering of MC252 oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill started immediately after release during the 1500-m ascent to the sea surface and continued as it was transported on the surface and reached the shoreline. Weathering processes included evaporation, dissolution, photo-degradation, and biodegradation, among others. With extensive sample collection and detailed chemistry and source fingerprinting analyses, the Deepwater Horizon data provide a unique opportunity to evaluate weathering processes semi-quantitatively. An objective method of defining the degree of oil weathering is developed based on the detailed chemical results for over 700 MC252 oil samples from the environment.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Contaminantes Químicos del Agua
/
Petróleo
/
Contaminación por Petróleo
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mar Pollut Bull
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos