IMPACTS AND RECOVERY FROM THE HEBEI SPIRIT OIL SPILL &#8211 GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC MULTIMEDIA ANALYSES FOR TPH AND PAHS

Abstract

Contamination levels and temporal variations of oil contaminations were investigated after the Hebei Spirit oil spill in December 2007. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and/or total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in seawater, sediment, pore water and marine organisms were analyzed and their environmental risks were also evaluated. Immediately after the spill, the direct impact of the Hebei Spirit oil spill was clearly recognized at most sites surveyed. The oil component concentrations in seawater and marine biota were several orders of magnitude higher than those detected at reference sites. The distribution of oil contamination showed considerable variability depending on the proximity to the spill location. Thereafter the oil contamination in the media have decreased gradually to background levels with varying degrees of half-lives depending on the matrices. However the clear impact of the oil spill was still observed at several sites even ten years after the spill. This results show persistence of the impact of oil pollution at specific marine environment or conditions. pore water and marine organisms were analyzed and their environmental risks were also evaluated. Immediately after the spill, the direct impact of the Hebei Spirit oil spill was clearly recognized at most sites surveyed. The oil component concentrations in seawater and marine biota were several orders of magnitude higher than those detected at reference sites. The distribution of oil contamination showed considerable variability depending on the proximity to the spill location. Thereafter the oil contamination in the media have decreased gradually to background levels with varying degrees of half-lives depending on the matrices. However the clear impact of the oil spill was still observed at several sites even ten years after the spill. This results show persistence of the impact of oil pollution at specific marine environment or conditions.