Responses of macrobenthos colonizing estuarine sediments contaminated with drilling mud containing diesel oil

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01636488· OSTI ID:6318171

Tagatz, M E; Plaia, G R; Deans, C H

Acute toxicities and sublethal effects were determined in several investigations for 11 types of drilling muds obtained from offshore drilling sites in the Gulf of Mexico, which the Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association supplied to the Environmental Protection Agency. All were used muds that had been recycled during drilling. Those containing the highest amounts of No. 2 diesel fuel oil were the most acutely toxic to mysids (Mysidopsis bahia), grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio), quahog clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), and sand dollars (Echinarachnius parma) and elicited the greatest sublethal responses in corals (Acropora cervicornis). A lignosulfonate mud was the most toxic, followed by a lime mud containing 3.98 mg diesel/g. The present study was initiated to determine the impact of the lime mud with its diesel oil component on field colonization by macrobenthos.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL
• OSTI ID: 6318171
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 35:1; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
03 NATURAL GAS
030800 -- Natural Gas-- Environmental Aspects
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BENTHOS
DIESEL FUELS
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ESTUARIES
FLUIDS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
TOXICITY