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U.S. EPA Ecotoxicity and Biodegradation Research in Support of the Multi-Partner Research Initiative
Citation:
Barron, M., R. Conmy, D. Sundaravadivelu, K. Lech, AND E. Moso. U.S. EPA Ecotoxicity and Biodegradation Research in Support of the Multi-Partner Research Initiative. Clean Gulf, San Antonio, Texas, October 20 - 22, 2020.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this abstract is to present a summary of the EPA research program focused on determining the ecotoxicity and biodegradation of oil and agents used in oil spill response. The impact of the research will be that there will be fewer data gaps in the understanding of the relative hazards of different oils and spill response agents. The long-term potential impact will be that EPA’s testing approaches and model test organisms will be adopted by the international oil spill research community, and ultimately oil spill responses will be improved through the application of the science.
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research program supporting the Multi-Partner Research Initiative (MPRI) is focused on assessing the following: (1) ecological relevance of laboratory toxicity tests, (2) toxicity of in situ burn residues, (3) sensitivity of aquatic test species to oil and spill mitigation agents, and (4) biodegradation of petroleum products and spill treating agents. Assessing the effect of mixing energy and environmental conditions on the physical characteristics, chemical composition, and toxicity of oil at varying concentrations and forms (dissolved vs particulate fractions) is intended to bridge knowledge gaps in extrapolating laboratory data to spill response scenarios. The relative ecotoxicology hazards of in situ burning (ISBs) are being determined by comparing the toxicity and chemistry of burn residues to non-burned oil. Determining the sensitivity of multiple species of aquatic organisms to oil and spill treating agents (dispersants, surface washing agents, surface collecting agents, solidifiers) is expanding the knowledge base for diverse oils and agents used in spill response beyond the few intensely studied species and dispersants. The biodegradability of oil, with and without the application of spill treating agents, is being evaluated to determine the fate and persistence of hydrocarbons and agents under varying environmental conditions. This collaborative research between the U.S. and Canada is being conducted over the four-year duration of the MPRI and is addressing critical knowledge gaps in the ecotoxicity and biodegradation of oil and spill treating agents under both Arctic and temperate conditions.
URLs/Downloads:
https://eventsinamerica.com/events/2020-clean-gulf/environment/apparel/lt5a2n66t20szmkp