Fate of petroleum hydrocarbons in nearshore Arctic aquatic ecosystems

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5392180

Horowitz, A

Studies of experimental spills of Prudhoe Bay crude oil in a model flow-through-system showed an approximately 18% weight loss attributable to abiotic weathering during two weeks in early summer. Thereafter, oil biodegradation occurred very slowly, with 75% of untreated oil slicks remaining at the end of summer (70 days), and no biodegradation at all during winter. Oil biodegradation was stimulated by nutrient addition, 60% remaining after 70 days. Biodegradation lessened weights of residual oil, but did not alter the relative percentage of component hydrocarbon classes. Ratios of oil degraders to total heterotrophic bacteria were five times higher under oil slicks than controls. Rates of removal of carbon-14-labeled hydrocarbons were higher in water previously exposed to oil than in controls. Microbial seeding enhanced hydrocarbon biodegradation. Shifts in microbial populations were detected following an accidental spillage of 55,000 gal of leaded gasoline into an arctic freshwater lake. Indigenous microorganisms in the lake could extensively convert hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide, but hydrocarbons persisted in the sediment one year after contamination.

• OSTI ID: 5392180
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
HYDROCARBONS
BIODEGRADATION
OIL SPILLS
WEATHERING
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ARCTIC REGIONS
BACTERIA
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
NUTRIENTS
STIMULATION
TRACER TECHNIQUES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLAR REGIONS
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)