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Sunken oil mats: A biomarker-based investigation
Rafael André Lourenço1, Rafael Patrick R Marcelino1, Gabrielle Vieira Lube1
1Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191 - Cidade Universitária, Butantã 05508-120, SP, Brazil.
Marine Pollution Bulletin
|September 18, 2024
Summary
Sunken oil mats (SOMs) from a 2019 spill show weathering before formation. Photooxidation, not biodegradation, was the main degradation process, impacting aromatic compounds.
Area of Science:
- Marine pollution
- Environmental chemistry
- Petroleum geochemistry
Background:
- Sunken oil mats (SOMs) are persistent marine pollutants.
- Their long-term fate and weathering are poorly understood.
- The 2019 Brazilian oil spill provides a case study for SOM analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate biomarker degradation in a SOM sample.
- Determine weathering processes affecting SOMs.
- Assess the origin and ecological impact of the oil spill.
Main Methods:
- Collected and sectioned a SOM sample from the Brazilian coast.
- Analyzed biomarker composition and degradation patterns.
- Utilized biomarker-based diagnosis to identify weathering factors.
Main Results:
- SOM composition differed from spilt oil, attributed to tanker residues.
- Consistent depletion of volatile and photooxidation-sensitive compounds observed.
- Photooxidation was a significant weathering factor, particularly for aromatic compounds.
Conclusions:
- Oil weathering occurred prior to SOM formation.
- Photooxidation plays a key role in SOM degradation.
- Biomarker analysis is crucial for understanding oil spill impacts.
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