Hebei Spirit Oil Spill in Korea: Temporal Trends of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Oyster(Crassostrea gigas)

Abstract

An oil tanker named Hebei Spirit, spilled an estimated 12,547 kL of crude oil of three kinds, at the entrance of Taean coast, Korea on December 7, 2007. Temporal variation in petroleum-derived hydrocarbons in oyster (Crassostrea gigas) was investigated at Taean coastal region after the Hebei spirit oil spill (HSOS). Oil contamination in oyster, in the survey area, during December 2007, rose to 10-1000 times over its pre-spill level. The PAHs concentration increased significantly after the spill and decreased 7-8 months later close to the background level. Among the PAH homologues, alkyl-substituted dibenzothiophenes were highest in the relative proportion, except naphthalenes, and followed by alkylated phenanthrenes. This compositional signature in oyster is consistent with those of spilled oil. PAHs composition profile and chemical fingerprints in oyster revealed that the impact of spilled oil continued until the next spawning season. PAHs concentrations in oyster showed seasonal variations at all stations thereafter. Since oyster does not metabolize petroleum hydrocarbons significantly, the compositional profile in oyster can be effectively used to trace the source of oil pollution in the marine environment.