title: Assessing fuel spill risks in polar waters: Temporal dynamics and behaviour of hydrocarbons from Antarctic diesel, marine gas oil and residual fuel oil.
abstract: As part of risk assessment of fuel oil spills in Antarctic and subantarctic waters, this study describes partitioning of hydrocarbons from three fuels (Special Antarctic Blend diesel, SAB; marine gas oil, MGO; and intermediate grade fuel oil, IFO 180) into seawater at 0 and 5°C and subsequent depletion over 7days. Initial total hydrocarbon content (THC) of water accommodated fraction (WAF) in seawater was highest for SAB. Rates of THC loss and proportions in equivalent carbon number fractions differed between fuels and over time. THC was most persistent in IFO 180 WAFs and most rapidly depleted in MGO WAF, with depletion for SAB WAF strongly affected by temperature. Concentration and composition remained proportionate in dilution series over time. This study significantly enhances our understanding of fuel behaviour in Antarctic and subantarctic waters, enabling improved predictions for estimates of sensitivities of marine organisms to toxic contaminants from fuels in the region.
authors.affiliation: Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia; Human Impacts and Remediation, Antarctic Conservation and Management Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, TAS 7050, Australia. Electronic address: kathryn.brown@aad.gov.au.
authors.forename: Kathryn E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Human Impacts and Remediation, Antarctic Conservation and Management Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, TAS 7050, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotzakoulakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D003080:Cold Temperature; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods; D005648:Fuel Oils / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D005648:Fuel Oils; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Antarctic pollution; Fuel spills; Petroleum hydrocarbon; Toxicity; Water accommodated fraction