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Long-Term Weathering of Amoco Cadiz Oil in Soft Intertidal Sediments

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Long-Term Weathering of Amoco Cadiz Oil in Soft Intertidal Sediments LONG-TERM WEATHERING OF AMOCO CADIZ OIL IN SOFT INTERTIDAL SEDIMENTS David S. Page, Judith C. Foster, Paulette M. Fickett Bowdoin College Hydrocarbon Research Center Brunswick, Maine 04011 Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/article-pdf/1989/1/401/1741600/2169-3358-1989-1-401.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 Edward S. Gilfillan Bowdoin College Marine Research Laboratory Brunswick, Maine 04011 ABSTRACT: Samples of sediment were taken at intervals between 1979 were expected. It was therefore necessary to select a reference area and 1986 from soft sediment locations in the Aber Benoit, an estuary with features as similar as possible to the low-energy mudflat sites to heavily impacted by the Amoco Cadiz oil spill of 1978, and from a permit the definition of an end-point for oil weathering. The area comparable reference site outside the spill zone. Each sample was chosen was the Bay of Kerogan in the Odet River, south of the spill analyzed for aliphatic hydrocarbons by capillary gas chromatography. zone and 5 km downstream from the city of Quimper. This location The data demonstrate the progressive weathering of the Amoco Cadiz was remarkably similar in appearance to the Loc Majan cove (Site 2, oil resulting in an assemblage of biogenic hydrocarbons similar to the Table 1). reference site by 1986 at all but the most heavily impacted locations. The weathering of Amoco Cadiz oil was monitored by various The data indicate that any residues of weathered Amoco Cadiz oil pres- groups at selected locations between 1978 and 1981.5 During the six- ent in 1985-86 were in the final stages of degradation. to 12-month period after the spill, the stranded oil in the Aber Benoit underwent processes that altered the distribution of oil within the aber and the distribution of hydrocarbons in the oil itself. In April, 1978, one month after the spill, Allen, et al.1 found most of the oil distributed on the more exposed locations that received the initial On March 16, 1978, the tanker Amoco Cadiz grounded off the impact. Within 12 months after the spill, Morel15 and Morel and coast of Brittany, France, spilling her cargo of 221,000 tons of light Courtot16 demonstrated that a large proportion of petroleum hy- 13 Middle Eastern crude oil over the next 15 days. About 320 km of drocarbons was moving around the interior of the aber associated 3 coastline was affected to varying degrees. While at sea, the oil under- with suspended particulate matter. The result was the accumulation 2 went extensive evaporative and biodegradative loss so that the petro- of particulate-associated hydrocarbons in low-energy depositional leum that stranded had changed in character from the original cargo areas.15 For these locations, total hydrocarbon concentrations were oil. Of the 62,000 tons of oil estimated to be on the shore at the end observed to remain static or actually increase between 1978 and 1979, of March, 1978, only 9,200 tons was estimated to be remaining a even though extensive biodegradation of the petroleum residues was 7 month later. The loss was due to cleanup activities and the extensive observed.15,16 Similar observations were made for the behavior of oil 11 biodegradation of the stranded oil. in the nearby Aber Wrac'h during the first six to 12 months after the The Aber Benoit, an estuary about 10 km east from the site of the spiU 4,5,6,14,21 wreck, was heavily affected. Its east-west orientation, the westerly The present study was begun in 1979 to follow the actual changes winds during the initial weeks of the spill, and the 6 to 9 m tides in this 1 in petroleum residues in soft-sediment environments over time. The area forced in large quantities of oil. Figure 1 shows the Aber Benoit authors conducted sampling trips to the Amoco Cadiz impact zone in and a portion of the Aber W'rach, along with the study sites described June and December, 1979; December 1980; July 1984; October, 1985, in Table 1. The Aber Benoit is approximately 10 km long and 1 km and March 1986. The point of reference for the original spilled oil wide at the mouth. The freshwater input to the aber is less than 18 15 was a mousse sample taken from a collection pit on the beach at St. percent of its total volume. Transport of suspended sediment within Michel en Greve in June, 1978. While both aliphatic and aromatic the aber is mainly the result of tidal current-driven resuspension and 115 hydrocarbon fractions were analyzed by capillary gas chromatog- transport. As a result, the Aber Benoit has extensive mudbanks raphy, the course of oil weathering was documented in terms of consisting of fine reduced sediment in low-energy areas. These soft molecular markers in the aliphatic fraction. The weathering of the sediment environments have been ranked as being highly vulnerable 10 Amoco Cadiz petroleum residues in sediments has been characterized to oil spills where oil may persist for more than 10 years. by the loss of n-alkanes and 1- and 2-ring aromatics within 12 months The land around the Aber Benoit is primarily agricultural and rural at most locations. Isoprenoids, long chain alkanes, pentacyclic triter- residential. Small commercial and pleasure craft were moored 1 to 2 panes, unresolved complex material, and aromatics with three or km in from the mouth of the aber. There were also oyster parks at more rings were observed to degrade more slowly.511 locations in the intertidal zone in the same area. Septic drainages from individual dwellings and several small towns and villages resulted in high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in the water throughout the aber.9 The many small streams draining into the aber gave visual Materials and methods evidence of organic and nutrient enrichment. Because of these various inputs of non-petroleum organic matter, Intertidal sediment samples were taken in the field using solvent- relatively high background levels of sediment biogenic hydrocarbons cleaned sampling gear. Ordinarily a 6-cm diameter metal coring de- 401 402 1989 OIL SPILL CONFERENCE Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/article-pdf/1989/1/401/1741600/2169-3358-1989-1-401.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 Figure 1. Map of the Aber Benoit showing the locations of the sampling sites—The inset shows the relative locations of the study areas and the reference area. Table 1. Locations of sampling sites within the Aber Benoit and the Odet River reference area. The numbered Aber Benoit sites correspond to those shown in Figure 1. Aber Benoit sites and a soft mud middle and lower tide zone broken into small channels by land runoff. In 1985, traces of oily sheen were St. Pabu, Porz ar Vilin area, 30 in upstream from an oyster observed when digging in the soft mud at various locations in park. The area is a mudbank accessible by foot. The samples this area. The sample was taken in an area of soft mud were taken from the same area of soft sediment at the low tide exhibiting an oily sheen when disturbed. line. In 1979, heavy oil sheen was produced when the sediment Lannilis, 200 meters downstream from the D28 Bridge. This was disturbed. By 1986, there was no visible evidence of oil. station consisted of sandy mud at the mid tide zone that showed St. Pabu, western side of Loc Majan cove. This is a large visual evidence, even in 1979, of extensive bioturbation by depositional area in which fine sediment and associated organic polychaetes. In 1979, the reduced sediment layer began almost matter accumulates. The soft mud banks on the western side at the surface and showed an oily irridescence when disturbed. are more than 2 m deep and are impassable without flotation By 1984, the dark colored reduced layer began at a depth of aid. In 1979 and 1980, the soft mud along the western shore was 4 cm and no visual traces of oil could be seen. hydrophobic and exuded oil sheen when disturbed. No evidence of foraging by seabirds was observed. In 1985 and 1986, the mud surface appeared normal and only scattered traces of oil sheen could be observed in a small fraction of holes dug Reference area throughout the mudflat. There was extensive visual evidence of L'Odet River, Bay of Kerogan. This is an embayment in a tidal seabird foraging on the mud surface. The samples taken in river similar in shape and situation to Loc Majan cove. It acts as a 1980, 1984, and 1985 were taken at a location 0.5 meter into the trap for fine grain sediments and is characterized by extensive mudbank from the break in the rocky upper tide zone. The banks of deep, soft, reduced mud. 1986 sites A and B were taken 10 m and 20 m out onto the A. Depositional area at the head of the south branch of bay; soft mudflat from the 1985 site, respectively. The 1986 samples were sediment from a small feeder creek bank west of main stream stratified (0-4 cm and 4-20 cm) cores. B. Depositional area at head of south branch of bay. Soft Lannilis, Lothonou Cove area. This is a small cove acting as a sediment 1 meter from the bank of the main creek near the trap for fine sediment, characterized by a rocky upper tide zone 'Mowlin de Kerdour' vice was used to obtain a sample of the top 10-cm layer. In some cases, For consolidated sediment samples, a 50-100 g wet aliquot was styrofoam walking devices had to be used to permit safe access to placed in a tared thimble and extracted in a Soxhelet extractor for 24 very soft sediment areas.
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