Occurrence, characterization, and ecological risk analysis of petroleum hydrocarbons in water and sediments following large-scale field simulated oil spills at the experimental lakes area, Northwestern Ontario, Canada.

This study assessed the impact of on-site field-simulated oil spills at the International Institute for Sustainable Development-Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) on a freshwater boreal lake. Low total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) values were obtained in water and sediments from the locations without direct oil loading across the 6-year monitoring program. Biogenic n-alkanes and pyrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were predominant pre- and post-spill.

Recommendations for the advancement of oil-in-water media and source oil characterization in aquatic toxicity test studies.

During toxicity testing, chemical analyses of oil and exposure media samples are needed to allow comparison of results between different tests as well as to assist with identification of the drivers and mechanisms for the toxic effects observed. However, to maximize the ability to compare results between different laboratories and biota, it has long been recognized that guidelines for standard protocols were needed. In 2005, the Chemical Response to Oil Spills: Ecological Effects Research Forum (CROSERF) protocol was developed with existing common analytical methods that described a standard method for reproducible preparation of exposure media as well as recommended specific analytical methods and analyte lists for comparative toxicity testing.

Chemical Weathering Patterns of Diluted Bitumen Spilled into Freshwater Limnocorrals.

Due to the sudden nature of oil spills, few controlled studies have documented how oil weathers immediately following accidental release into a natural lake environment. Here, we evaluated the weathering patterns of Cold Lake Winter Blend, a diluted bitumen (dilbit) product, by performing a series of controlled spills into limnocorrals installed in a freshwater lake in Northern Ontario, Canada. Using a regression-based design, we added seven different dilbit volumes, ranging from 1.

Radio- and stable carbon isotope analysis reveals minimal assimilation of petrogenic carbon into an oligotrophic freshwater food web after experimental spills of diluted bitumen.

Following an oil spill into water, bacteria can biodegrade petroleum hydrocarbons which could lead to petrogenic carbon assimilation by aquatic biota. We used changes in the isotope ratios of radio- (ΔC) and stable (δC) carbon to examine the potential for assimilation of petrogenic carbon into a freshwater food web following experimental spills of diluted bitumen (dilbit) into a boreal lake in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Different volumes (1.

The fate and behavior of petroleum biomarkers in diluted bitumen and conventional crude oil exposed to natural sunlight in simulated seawater.

Given that the physicochemical properties of diluted bitumen (dilbit) can differ from those of conventional crude oil, understanding the fate and behavior of this petroleum product in the environment becomes vital. This study involves the analysis of the photolytic behavior of some representative petroleum biomarkers, bicyclic sesquiterpanes (BSs), admantanes (ADs), diamantanes (DAs), and mono- and triaromatic steranes (MASs and TASs), by exposing Cold Lake Blend (CLB) and Alberta Sweet Mixed Blend (MSW) to winter and summer insolation after being spilled onto artificial brines. Aromatic steranes in all control samples remained relatively stable, whereas the biomarkers of BSs, ADs, and DAs were less stable.

Bioaccumulation and toxicokinetics of polycyclic aromatic compounds and metals in giant floater mussels (Pyganodon grandis) exposed to a simulated diluted bitumen spill.

Oil spills constitute a major risk to the environment and the bioaccumulation potential of the derived oil constituents will influence their impact on aquatic biota. Here we determined the bioaccumulation potential and toxicokinetic parameters of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and various selected metals in the giant floater mussels (Pyganodon grandis) following experimental oil spills in a freshwater lake. Specifically, these mussels were exposed ex situ for 25 days to water contaminated with naturally weathered diluted bitumen (dilbit), a form of oil commonly transported through pipelines.

Responses of Wild Finescale Dace (Phoxinus neogaeus) to Experimental Spills of Cold Lake Blend Diluted Bitumen at the International Institute for Sustainable Development-Experimental Lakes Area, Northwestern Ontario.

Pipelines carrying diluted bitumen (dilbit) traverse North America and may result in dilbit release into sensitive freshwater ecosystems. To better understand the potential effects of a freshwater oil release, the Boreal-lake Oil Release Experiment by Additions to Limnocorrals project at the International Institute for Sustainable Development-Experimental Lakes Area (Ontario, Canada) modeled seven dilbit spills contained within a 10-m diameter of littoral limnocorrals in a boreal lake. Wild finescale dace (Phoxinus neogaeus) were released in the limnocorrals 21 days after oil addition and remained there for 70 days.

Parallel quantitation of salt dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) and fingerprinting analysis of dispersed oil in aqueous samples.

In many jurisdictions, dispersants are included in contingency plans as a viable countermeasure that can help reduce the overall environmental impact of marine oil spills. When used, it is imperative to monitor the progression of dispersant and oil to assess their environmental fate and behaviour. Amphiphilic salt dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) is the major effective component of the most commonly available dispersants, such as Corexit® EC9500A.

Effects of asphaltenes on the photolytic and toxic behavior of bitumen and conventional oil products on saltwater.

The effects of asphaltenes on the photolytic and toxic behavior of petroleum oil on seawater was investigated by exposing five original oils and their maltenes to solar irradiation for seven days. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) experienced the fastest photo-oxidation, but negligible photolytic loss was observed for most normal alkanes and all the petroleum biomarkers from tri-cyclic to pentyl-cyclic terpanes in the test total oil and maltenes. The removal of most PAHs from some maltenes was greater than the corresponding total oils.

Resilience of larval wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) to hydrocarbons and other compounds released from naturally weathered diluted bitumen in a boreal lake.

The risks to aquatic wildlife from spills of diluted bitumen (dilbit) into inland waters are poorly understood. In this paper, we describe the response of larval wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) to hydrocarbons and other compounds released from experimental spills of dilbit in a temperate boreal lake. To simulate a wide range of environmentally relevant oil spill scenarios, different volumes of Cold Lake Winter Blend dilbit (0, 1.

Effect of spilled diluted bitumen on chemical air-water exchange in boreal lake limnocorrals.

Following spills into water, petroleum oils can spread widely and produce surface slicks. Resulting slicks may impede volatilization and possibly increase chemical persistence in water. While the influence of oil films on chemical air-water exchange has been examined through theoretical and laboratory studies, field studies have not been conducted to assess the relevance of these effects following actual oil spill events.

Occurrence, characterization, source, and risk assessment of petroleum-related hydrocarbons in sediments along St. Clair River, Ontario, Canada.

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), n-alkanes, petroleum biomarkers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in the sediments collected from the shorelines and bottom of St. Clair River, Ontario, Canada. Most of the sampling sites had low TPH (< 20 μg/g).

Occurrence, characterization, and ecological assessment of petroleum-related hydrocarbons on the shoreline of Fraser River Delta, British Columbia, Canada.

The Fraser River Delta is a unique and dynamic region supporting the diverse ecosystems and habitats in the Canadian West Coast. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), n-alkanes, petroleum biomarkers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed for the intertidal sediments taken from the shorelines of the Delta area, British Columbia, Canada, to establish the baseline background data. Most of the sampling sites had low TPH (< 40 μg/g); only two samples had TPH from 100 to 150 μg/g.

Simulating diluted bitumen spills in boreal lake limnocorrals - Part 1: Experimental design and responses of hydrocarbons, metals, and water quality parameters.

Large-scale, in-lake enclosures (limnocorrals) were used to simulate spills of diluted bitumen (dilbit) in a boreal lake. In this study we use these simulated spills, which covered a range of sizes (oil:water ratio) representative of the upper 25% of onshore crude oil spills in North America (2008-2019), to assess the fate of dilbit-derived hydrocarbons and metals as well as the impacts of the spills on standard water quality parameters. The systems were monitored over 70 days following the application of dilbit amounts ranging between 1.

Tracking petrogenic hydrocarbons in lakes of the Peace-Athabasca Delta in Alberta, Canada using petroleum biomarkers.

The Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD) receives a mixture of hydrocarbons from biogenic, pyrogenic, and petrogenic processes. Source apportionment in the PAD has focussed on polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), which are ubiquitous in the environment and susceptible to weathering. In contrast, petroleum biomarkers of terpanes, hopanes, and steranes are degradation-resistant organic compounds found uniquely in petroleum products that can identify the input and origin of petrogenic hydrocarbons (PHCs).

Application of gas chromatography-high resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in fingerprinting analysis of polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles.

Polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs), as a group of major sulfur-containing compounds, widely occur in crude oil and its refined products. Accurate analyses of these petrochemical components play an important role in monitoring oil quality, forensic source identification, and assessment of environmental impact of an oil spill. PASHs occur at relatively lower abundances in most crude oils and refined petroleum products than their corresponding aromatic hydrocarbons and are co-eluted together with some petroleum hydrocarbons in chromatographic analysis, resulting in high uncertainty for their quantitation.

Occurrence, characterization, and ecological assessment of petroleum-related hydrocarbons in intertidal marine sediments of Burrard Inlet, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), n-alkanes, petroleum biomarkers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in the intertidal sediments of Burrard Inlet, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Most of the sampling sites had low TPH (<40 μg/g). Only 10% of sampling sites, located nearby a harbour and densely populated areas, had relatively high TPH (<260 μg/g).

Occurrence and weathering of petroleum hydrocarbons deposited on the shoreline of the North Saskatchewan River from the 2016 Husky oil spill.

Following the 16TAN Husky oil spill along the North Saskatchewan River (NSR), the occurrence and natural attenuation of the petroleum hydrocarbons were assessed by analyzing the littoral zone sediments/oil debris collected from July 2016 to October 2017. Husky oil-free, mixed sediment-Husky oil, and Husky oil debris samples were identified for all the collected samples. Shoreline sediments were contaminated by mixed biogenic, pyrogenic and petrogenic inputs prior to the spill.

Simulating a Spill of Diluted Bitumen: Environmental Weathering and Submergence in a Model Freshwater System.

The main petroleum product transported through pipelines in Canada is diluted bitumen (dilbit), a semiliquid form of heavy crude oil mixed with natural gas condensates to facilitate transport. The weathering, fate, behavior, and environmental effects of dilbit are crucial to consider when responding to a spill; however, few environmental studies on dilbit have been completed. We report on 11-d-long experimental spills of dilbit (Cold Lake Winter Blend) in outdoor microcosms meant to simulate a low-energy aquatic system containing natural lake water and sediments treated with low (1:8000 oil:water) and high (1:800 oil:water) volumes of dilbit.

Biodegradation potential assessment by using autochthonous microorganisms from the sediments from Lac Mégantic (Quebec, Canada) contaminated with light residual oil.

In July 2013, a fatal train derailment led to an explosion and fire in the town of Lac-Mégantic (LM), Quebec, and the crude oil contamination of regional surface water, soil, and sediment in the adjacent Lake Mégantic. This study investigated the degradation potential of the spilled crude oil by using the sediments from the incident site as the source of microorganisms. Two light crude oils (LM source oil and Alberta Sweet Mixed Blend (ASMB)) were tested at 22 °C for 4 weeks and 4 °C for 8 weeks, respectively.

Monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination at four oil spill sites using fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor-principal component analysis.

Fluorescence spectroscopy analysis of oil and environmental samples collected from four oil spill incidents in Canada-a 2016 pipeline spill into the North Saskatchewan River (NSR), Saskatchewan; a 2015 train derailment in Gogama, Ontario; the 1970 sinking of the SS Arrow ship in Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia; and the 1970 sinking of the Irving Whale barge in the Gulf of St. Lawrence-permitted assessment of the PAH content of environmentally weathered samples. A recently developed fluorescence fingerprinting model based on excitation-emission matrix-parallel factor analysis-principal component analysis (EEM-PARAFAC-PCA) was applied to (i) evaluate the intensity of the abundant PAH groups in the samples, (ii) investigate changes in the PAH composition of environmental samples over time due to weathering, and (iii) classify the original spilled oil and environmental samples within the already established classes of the fingerprinting PCA model.

Characterization of Nitrogen-Containing Polycyclic Aromatic Heterocycles in Crude Oils and Refined Petroleum Products.

A large amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their heterocyclic analogues (N, S, O) are released to the marine environment from natural oil seeps, oil spills, bilge discharges and input of land-based sources. Many of these compounds are toxic and have a deleterious effect on marine biota. Nitrogen-containing compounds in crude oils are typically present as cyclic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles (PANHs) and are generally classified into the two categories of nonbasic (N-PANHs) and basic compounds (B-PANHs).

Occurrence, source and ecological assessment of petroleum related hydrocarbons in intertidal marine sediments of the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada.

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), n-alkanes, petroleum-related biomarkers of terpanes and steranes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in the intertidal sediments in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia/New Brunswick, Canada. Sites close to the harbour and more densely populated areas had higher TPH levels than other pristine areas. n-Alkanes presented a typical single bell-shape in n-C to n-C range and an obvious odd to even carbon preference.

Rapid fingerprinting of spilled petroleum products using fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor and principal component analysis.

The characterization of spilled petroleum products in an oil spill is necessary for identifying the spill source, selection of clean-up strategies, and evaluating potential environmental and ecological impacts. Existing standard methods for the chemical characterization of spilled oils are time-consuming due to the lengthy sample preparation for analysis. The main objective of this study is the development of a rapid screening method for the fingerprinting of spilled petroleum products using excitation/emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, thereby delivering a preliminary evaluation of the petroleum products within hours after a spill.

Effect of evaporative weathering and oil-sediment interactions on the fate and behavior of diluted bitumen in marine environments. Part 1. Spill-related properties, oil buoyancy, and oil-particulate aggregates characterization.

The fate and behavior of diluted bitumen spilled in marine conditions has recently become a topic of much interest, yet, only limited knowledge is available. One of the major issues of a diluted bitumen spill on water is whether the product will sink, especially when suspended sediment is present in the water column. This study demonstrated how weathering processes influenced the key spill-related properties of a diluted bitumen product (Cold Lake Blend-Winter), and how interaction of diluted bitumen with sediment affected its tendency to float or sink in water.