Long-term monitoring of petroleum derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using passive air sampler after the Hebei Spirit oil spill

Abstract

The Hebei Spirit oil spill in December 7th, 2007 was the biggest oil spill in Korea. Approximately 10,900 tons of crude oil (mixtures of Kuwait Export Crude, Iranian Heavy Crude, and UAE Upper Zakum Crude) were spilled and polluted 375 km of coastline. Thirty percents of total mass of crude oil, mostly volatile hydrocarbons were evaporated at the initial stage of spill. Harner type passive air samplers (PAS) consisting of polyurethane foam have been widely used for assessing air concentrations of semi-volatile organic compounds such as PAHs. In the present study, PAS were deployed at spill sites (Gaemok-port and Mallipo) and reference site (Mageum-ri) for one year after the spill on monthly basis. EPA priority PAHs and alkylated PAHs were measured. Concentrations of 15 PAHs were similar to those reported at reference site. On the other hand, concentrations of alkylated PAHs measured at spill sites were significantly higher than that of a reference site right after the spill. In particular, the concentrations and profiles of alkylated phenanthrenes and dibenzothiophenes exhibited strong influence of petroleum derived PAHs inputs. PAHs double ratio using alkylated phenanthrenes and dibenzothiophenes identified petrogenic input source and further implicated environmental fate of volatile fractions of spilled oil. This study demonstrated that PAS is useful tool for spatially resolved and time integrated monitoring of oilf coastline. Thirty percents of total mass of crude oil, mostly volatile hydrocarbons were evaporated at the initial stage of spill. Harner type passive air samplers (PAS) consisting of polyurethane foam have been widely used for assessing air concentrations of semi-volatile organic compounds such as PAHs. In the present study, PAS were deployed at spill sites (Gaemok-port and Mallipo) and reference site (Mageum-ri) for one year after the spill on monthly basis. EPA priority PAHs and alkylated PAHs were measured. Concentrations of 15 PAHs were similar to those reported at reference site. On the other hand, concentrations of alkylated PAHs measured at spill sites were significantly higher than that of a reference site right after the spill. In particular, the concentrations and profiles of alkylated phenanthrenes and dibenzothiophenes exhibited strong influence of petroleum derived PAHs inputs. PAHs double ratio using alkylated phenanthrenes and dibenzothiophenes identified petrogenic input source and further implicated environmental fate of volatile fractions of spilled oil. This study demonstrated that PAS is useful tool for spatially resolved and time integrated monitoring of oil