title: Persistence and biodegradation of kerosene in high-arctic intertidal sediment.
abstract: A kerosene type hydrocarbon fraction (equivalent to 7 L m(-2)) was added to enclosures in the surface layer of high-arctic intertidal beach sediment. The experimental spill was repeated in two consecutive years in the period July-September. The rate and extent of hydrocarbon removal and the accompanying bacterial response were monitored for 79 days (2002) and 78 days (2003). The bulk of added kerosene, i.e. 94-98%, was lost from the upper 5 cm layer by putatively abiotic processes within 2 days and a residual fraction in the range 0.6-1.2mg per g dry sediment was stably retained. Concomitant addition of oleophilic fertilizer led to higher initial retention, as 24% of the kerosene remained after 2 days in the presence of a modified, cold-climate adapted version of the well-known Inipol EAP 22 bioremediation agent. In these enclosures, which showed an increase in hydrocarbon-degrader counts from 6.5 x 10(3) to 4.1 x 10(7) per g dry sediment within 8 days, a 17% contribution by biodegradation to subsequent hydrocarbon removal was estimated. Stimulation in hydrocarbon-degrader counts in fertilizer-alone control enclosures was indistinguishable from the stimulation observed with both kerosene and fertilizer present, suggesting that the dynamics in numbers of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria was primarily impacted by the bioremediation agent.
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Stian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Røberg
authors.forename: Svein Kristian
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Stormo
authors.forename: Bjarne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Landfald
mesh_terms: D001110:Arctic Regions; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D007648:Kerosene; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007648:Kerosene