Article
Environmental Sciences
Lin Zhao, Douglas A. Mitchell, Roger C. Prince, Ann Hayward Walker, J. Samuel Arey, Tim J. Nedwed
Summary: The controversy surrounding the use of Sub-Sea Dispersant Injection (SSDI) during the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) spill to minimize exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) remains. However, extensive evidence suggests that SSDI can reduce peak concentrations of VOC that pose immediate health concerns for workers, indicating its importance in minimizing potential exposure to VOC and the need for its inclusion in guidelines and regulations for dispersant use.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Review
Ecology
Uta Passow, Edward B. Overton
Summary: The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was the largest and deepest oil accident in US waters, with significant impacts on the marine ecosystem. The released oil underwent various mechanisms, including biodegradation, to transform and disperse, with some sedimenting onto the seafloor. Further research efforts have greatly increased our understanding of the fate of spilled oil, focusing on factors such as photooxidation, microbial communities, and marine oil snow formation.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL 13, 2021
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Deborah P. French-McCay, Hilary Robinson, Michael Bock, Deborah Crowley, Paul Schuler, Jill J. Rowe
Summary: This study examines the effectiveness of subsea dispersant injection (SSDI) during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and evaluates the potential alternatives if dispersants were not used or used more aggressively. The results show that the actual use of SSDI reduced risk to varying degrees, but more effective use of dispersants could have significantly reduced exposures and relative risks across the ecosystem.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah K. Berke, Kelly M. Dorgan, Erin Kiskaddon, Susan Bell, Kara Gadeken, William C. Clemo, Erin L. Keller, Theresa Caffray
Summary: This study examined the impact of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill on infaunal community structure in the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana. The results showed significant differences in the infaunal communities between the moderately oiled site and the lightly oiled site, driven by changes in the abundance of key taxa. The study also observed a decline in most taxonomic and community-level metrics during a re-oiling event, with more pronounced effects in seagrass beds. The study provides important insights into the impact of oil spills on benthic taxa and the potential use of bio-indicators for oil exposure.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jennifer A. Rusiecki, Hristina Denic-Roberts, Dana L. Thomas, Jacob Collen, John Barrett, Kate Christenbury, Lawrence S. Engel
Summary: The study found that participation in oil spill clean-up actions was associated with moderately increased risk for longer term respiratory conditions among active duty Coast Guard personnel.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robyn N. Conmy, Alexander Hall, Devi Sundaravadivelu, Blake A. Schaeffer, Andrew R. Murray
Summary: Tracking the subsea oil plume during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill was conducted using both in situ fluorescence and discrete sample chemical analyses. Discrete samples provided a coarse picture of the oil plume footprint, while in situ fluorescence data improved the resolution. Through analysis of millions of continuous data points, fluorescence was found to serve as a proxy for BTEX concentration.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
C. H. Ainsworth, E. P. Chassignet, D. French-McCay, C. J. Beegle-Krause, I. Berenshtein, J. Englehardt, T. Fiddaman, H. Huang, M. Huettel, D. Justic, V. H. Kourafalou, Y. Liu, C. Mauritzen, S. Murawski, S. Morey, T. Ozgokmen, C. B. Paris, J. Ruzicka, S. Saul, J. Shepherd, S. Socolofsky, H. Solo Gabriele, T. Sutton, R. H. Weisberg, C. Wilson, L. Zheng, Y. Zheng
Summary: The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GOMRI) has conducted in-depth studies on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill from various perspectives and recently assessed the program's accomplishments. By compiling 330 published applications and focusing on modeling efforts, GOMRI has made significant advancements in integrating diverse disciplines and domains. Various modeling tools have been utilized, with a focus on circulation models coupled with other environmental factors to track the fate of oil and its impact on ecosystems and human health.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Deborah P. French-McCay, Katherine Jayko, Zhengkai Li, Malcolm L. Spaulding, Deborah Crowley, Daniel Mendelsohn, Matthew Horn, Tatsusaburo Isaji, Yong Hoon Kim, Jeremy Fontenault, Jill J. Rowe
Summary: According to oil fate modeling of the Deepwater Horizon spill, the majority of the oil either surfaced or entered the deep plume sediment. A small percentage was removed by responders, and a portion remained in the water column. Non-volatile and soluble fractions degraded by the end of August, leaving residual oil to potentially settle. The model estimates were validated through field observations of floating oil and atmospheric emissions.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isabel C. Romero, Jeffrey P. Chanton, Gregg R. Brooks, Samantha Bosman, Rebekka A. Larson, Austin Harris, Patrick Schwing, Arne Diercks
Summary: Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS), a study was conducted to chemically characterize the formation of oil-associated marine snow (MOSSFA) in deep-sea sediments. Different sources of MOSSFA were found to have varying deposition patterns, indicating their significant influence on the fate of contaminants in the oceans. This study highlights the importance of multi-chemical methods in identifying biogenic and oil-derived inputs for improving our understanding of carbon inputs and storage in deep-sea environments.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Stephen A. Wise, Ryan P. Rodgers, Christopher M. Reddy, Robert K. Nelson, Elizabeth B. Kujawinski, Terry L. Wade, Andres D. Campiglia, Zhanfei Liu
Summary: Analytical techniques for chemical analysis of oil and its transformation products have greatly benefited from research following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Advanced gas chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry have provided a better understanding of the composition and complexity of oil, while novel separation approaches have increased the information available on spilled oil. The development of these techniques is important for future oil spills and investigations into the fate and effects of petroleum and dispersants.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Deborah P. French-McCay, Malcolm L. Spaulding, Deborah Crowley, Daniel Mendelsohn, Jeremy Fontenault, Matthew Horn
Summary: Modeling was used to analyze the trajectory and fate of oil released during the Deepwater Horizon blowout, with results closely matching estimates from remote sensing data, indicating reliability in evaluating environmental exposure in the water column and at the water surface.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dazhe Chen, Emily J. Werder, Patricia A. Stewart, Mark R. Stenzel, Fredric E. Gerr, Kaitlyn G. Lawrence, Caroline P. Groth, Tran B. Huynh, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, Sudipto Banerjee, W. Braxton Jackson II, Kate Christenbury, Richard K. Kwok, Dale P. Sandler, Lawrence S. Engel
Summary: During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) workers were exposed to toxic volatile components of crude oil. This study found that there were no adverse effects of crude oil exposure on neurological function among the overall study population. However, higher exposures to volatile components of crude oil were associated with modest deficits in neurologic function among OSRC workers who were age 50 years or older at study enrollment.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Tracey T. Sutton, Rosanna J. Milligan, Kendra Daly, Kevin M. Boswell, April B. Cook, Maelle Cornic, Tamara Frank, Kaitlin Frasier, Daniel Hahn, Frank Hernandez, John Hildebrand, Chuanmin Hu, Matthew W. Johnston, Samantha B. Joye, Heather Judkins, Jon A. Moore, Steven A. Murawski, Nina M. Pruzinsky, John A. Quinlan, Andrew Remsen, Kelly L. Robinson, Isabel C. Romero, Jay R. Rooker, Michael Vecchione, R. J. David Wells
Summary: The Deepwater Horizon disaster had unprecedented impacts on the open-ocean ecosystem, affecting the ecology and animal populations significantly. Many animal populations continue to decline a decade later, highlighting their vulnerability and the extent of damage.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edward B. Overton, Puspa L. Adhikari, Jagos R. Radovic, Uta Passow
Summary: The initial bulk and compound specific composition of the liquid oil spilled during the Deepwater Horizon disaster and the changes in its composition due to weathering are described in this paper. The study highlights the different types of hydrocarbon compounds and their levels of degradation in various environmental compartments.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hristina Denic-Roberts, Nicole Rowley, Mark C. Haigney, Kate Christenbury, John Barrett, Dana L. Thomas, Lawrence S. Engel, Jennifer A. Rusiecki
Summary: The study found that USCG responders involved in oil spill clean-up were at higher risk for acute and longer-term cardiovascular symptoms/conditions, with greater risks associated with exposure to crude oil and oil dispersants.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)