Grounding of the Bahia Paraiso at Arthur Harbor, Antarctica. 1. Distribution and fate of oil spill related hydrocarbons
- Texas A M Univ., College Station (USA)
- Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory, Stinson Beach, CA (USA)
- Univ. of California, Santa Cruz (USA)
In January to March 1989 water, organisms, and sediments within a 2-mile radius of Arthur Harbor were contaminated with an estimated 600,000 L of petroleum spilled by the Bahia Paraiso. All components of the ecosystem were contaminated to varying degrees during the spill, including birds, limpets, macroalgae, clams, bottom-feeding fish, and sediments. The high-energy environment, the relatively small volume of material released, and the volatility of the released product all contributed to limiting toxic effects in time and space. The most effective removal processes were evaporation, dilution, winds, and currents. Sedimentation, biological uptake, microbial oxidation, and photooxidation accounted for removal of only a minor portion of the spill. One year after the spill several areas still exhibited contamination. Subtidal sediments and the more distant intertidal locations were devoid of detectable PAH contaminants whereas sediments near the docking facility at Palmer Station continued to reflect localized nonspill-related activities in the area. Arthur Harbor and adjacent areas continue to be chronically exposed to low-level petroleum contamination emanating from the Bahia Paraiso.
- OSTI ID:
- 5479055
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Science and Technology; (USA), Vol. 25:3; ISSN 0013-936X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
02 PETROLEUM
OIL SPILLS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ANTARCTICA
DATA ANALYSIS
PETROLEUM
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SEDIMENTS
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
AROMATICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLAR REGIONS
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
020900 - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects