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Title: The toxicity of oil and chemically dispersed oil to the seagrass Thalassia testudinum

Abstract

Turtle grass beds, a valuable natural resource, are diminishing throughout the tropics because of damage from dredging, boats, and other factors. The toxicity of chemical dispersants and crude oil to turtle grass was determined in the laboratory to assess the potential for damage from spills occurring in the field. Studies of water-soluble fractions (WSF) of crude oil in static bioassays showed that a chemical dispersant (Corexit 9527) increased the amount of total oil in water more than 50-fold. The toxicity of chemically dispersed oil was assessed by conventional (96-h 50% lethal concentration) methods in static systems, and the results were compared with toxicity measurements where the system was flushed after 12 h. Prudhoe Bay crude WSF was more toxic than dispersed oil or dispersant alone, possibly because of the large component of benzene, toluene, and C-2 benzene. The percentage of green (chlorophyllous) leaves was useful as evidence of toxicity. The importance of anatomical features such as recessed meristem and abundant leaf sheaths in protecting the growing region from waterborne pollutants was evident.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Research Planning Inst., Columbia, SC
OSTI Identifier:
5236473
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Am. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: STP-840
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; OIL SPILLS; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; TOXICITY; SEAWEEDS; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; SURFACTANTS; WATER POLLUTION CONTROL; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; CONTROL; PLANTS; POLLUTION CONTROL; 020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects

Citation Formats

Baca, B J, and Getter, C D. The toxicity of oil and chemically dispersed oil to the seagrass Thalassia testudinum. United States: N. p., 1982. Web.
Baca, B J, & Getter, C D. The toxicity of oil and chemically dispersed oil to the seagrass Thalassia testudinum. United States.
Baca, B J, and Getter, C D. 1982. "The toxicity of oil and chemically dispersed oil to the seagrass Thalassia testudinum". United States.
@article{osti_5236473,
title = {The toxicity of oil and chemically dispersed oil to the seagrass Thalassia testudinum},
author = {Baca, B J and Getter, C D},
abstractNote = {Turtle grass beds, a valuable natural resource, are diminishing throughout the tropics because of damage from dredging, boats, and other factors. The toxicity of chemical dispersants and crude oil to turtle grass was determined in the laboratory to assess the potential for damage from spills occurring in the field. Studies of water-soluble fractions (WSF) of crude oil in static bioassays showed that a chemical dispersant (Corexit 9527) increased the amount of total oil in water more than 50-fold. The toxicity of chemically dispersed oil was assessed by conventional (96-h 50% lethal concentration) methods in static systems, and the results were compared with toxicity measurements where the system was flushed after 12 h. Prudhoe Bay crude WSF was more toxic than dispersed oil or dispersant alone, possibly because of the large component of benzene, toluene, and C-2 benzene. The percentage of green (chlorophyllous) leaves was useful as evidence of toxicity. The importance of anatomical features such as recessed meristem and abundant leaf sheaths in protecting the growing region from waterborne pollutants was evident.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5236473}, journal = {Am. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = STP-840,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982},
month = {Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982}
}