A comparison between the toxicity of oil and condensate
- TNO, Den Helder (Netherlands). Lab. for Applied Marine Research
The toxicity of condensate from the `Ameland` gasfield was compared to the toxicity of the standard North Sea oil `Forties`. The comparison was based on the `topped` (residue after distillation at 200 C) fraction. This fraction is comparable with the fraction of the oil that is hazardous to the marine environment because the topped fraction will almost immediately evaporate. Hundred individuals of Corophium were placed in experimental systems with a surface of 500 CM{sup 2} filled with 10 cm sediment and 15 cm of water from the Wadden Sea. After two days the oil and condensate were added to the water surface in concentrations between 100 {micro}g/m{sup 2} to 100 {micro}g/m{sup 2}. After application a low tide was simulated until the oil or condensate covered the sediment. After five hours the sediment was inundated again. After three days the survival of the individuals and the remaining concentrations of oil and condensate in sediment were measured. From video images taken directly after application of the oil it can be seen that the Corophiums crept out of the polluted sediment. Despite the fact that the topped condensate contained much more lower alkanes, almost no difference was found between the toxicity of the topped oil and condensate. This leads to the conclusion that the effect of oil is mainly based on physical damage and not so much on the composition. The results of a later experiment with sunflower oil confirmed this conclusion.
- OSTI ID:
- 191309
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9610%%310
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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