Petroleum oil and mercury pollution from shipwrecks in Norwegian coastal waters

Ndungù, Kuria; Beylich, Bjørnar; Staalstrøm, André; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Berge, John Arthur; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg; Schaanning, Morten; Bergstrøm, Rune

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.213

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…When data from transects were pooled there was no correlation between PAH concentration and distance from the wreck (R 2 = 0.00019 p > 0.05) nor with sediment depth (R 2 = 0.036 p > 0.05) (see Supplementary Figure 1). In comparing PAH concentrations, sediments near a World War II cargo ship, Nordvard (30 m depth near the Norwegian harbour of Moss), contained PAH concentrations ranging from 3,000 to 25,000 µg kg −1 of dry sediment (Ndungu et al, 2017). PAH concentrations in sediments around HMS Royal Oak were well within typical levels of PAHs found in United Kingdom coastal sediments.…”

Section: Sediment Pahs Originate From Pyrogenic Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 72%

Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Pollution From the HMS Royal Oak Shipwreck and Effects on Sediment Microbial Community Structure

et al. 2021

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Despite many shipwrecks containing oil there is a paucity of studies investigating their impact on surrounding environments. This study evaluates any potential effect the World War II shipwreck HMS Royal Oak is having on surrounding benthic sediments in Scapa Flow, Scotland. HMS (Her Majesty’s Ship) Royal Oak sank in 1939, subsequently leaked oil in the 1960s and 1990s, and is estimated to still hold 697 tonnes of fuel oil. In this study, sediments were analysed, over a 17.5 cm depth profile, along a 50–950 m cruciform transect away from the shipwreck. Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) revealed low concentrations (205.91 ± 50.15 μg kg–1 of dry sediment), which did not significantly differ with either distance from the shipwreck or sediment depth. PAH concentrations were well below the effects-range low (ERL) for the OSPAR (Oslo/Paris convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) maritime area. The average Pyrogenic Index, in sediments around HMS Royal Oak, was 1.06 (±0.34), indicating PAHs were pyrogenic rather than petrogenic. Moreover, analysis of sediment microbiomes revealed no significant differences in bacterial community structure with distance from the shipwreck, with extremely low levels of obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB; 0.21% ± 0.54%). Both lines of evidence suggest that sampled sediments are not currently being impacted by petrogenic hydrocarbons and show no long-term impact by previous oil-spills from HMS Royal Oak.

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Section: Sediment Pahs Originate From Pyrogenic Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 72%

Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Pollution From the HMS Royal Oak Shipwreck and Effects on Sediment Microbial Community Structure

et al. 2021

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“…Due to the concerns about the health of the marine environment and the need to protect the oceans from pollution, sunken ships have recently been receiving increased attention as an emergent threat worldwide (Monfils et al, 2006;Council of Europe, 2012;Ndungu et al, 2017). Unfortunately, this is not the case in the South Atlantic Ocean.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the hypothesis that the source of the largest oil spill ever recorded in Brazil (Soares et al, 2020b) may be from a shipwreck cannot be excluded until further geochemical analysis is conducted. Moreover, other WWII shipwrecks have coal and mineral-based oil in their cargo (Landquist et al, 2014;Faksness et al, 2015;Ndungu et al, 2017) and represent a permanent and overlooked risk of new oil spills disasters in the South Atlantic Ocean.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine debris from the past - Contamination of the Brazilian shore by a WWII wreck

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et al. 2021

Marine Environmental Research

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“…Lying in approximately 150 m of water off the Norwegian North Sea Island of Fedje is the German World War II submarine (U-864), which was estimated to be carrying 67 tonnes of elemental (liquid) mercury when it was sunk in 1945. The mercury was believed to be stored in >1860 steel canisters to provide ballast within the submarine's keel (Ndungu et al 2017). This has contributed to an elevation of up to 108 g/kg dry weight (d.w.) inorganic mercury within the sediment (gravelly sand and sandy clay overlying glacial debris deposited on bedrock) at the wreckage hotspot to approximately 1 mg/kg d.w. at 100 m from the wreck, sampled in 2005 (Uriansrud et al 2005).…”

Section: German Submarine U-864 Wreck Norwaymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This has contributed to an elevation of up to 108 g/kg dry weight (d.w.) inorganic mercury within the sediment (gravelly sand and sandy clay overlying glacial debris deposited on bedrock) at the wreckage hotspot to approximately 1 mg/kg d.w. at 100 m from the wreck, sampled in 2005 (Uriansrud et al 2005). Ndungu et al (2017) collected 2-3 m length sediment core samples and found that the average mercury concentration at 0.1-3 m depth sampled close to the wreck was 0.13 mg/kg, suggesting that the majority of mercury was still present in the surficial layers within the sediments. The concentration of methylmercury within sediments around the wreck was very low (<0.05% of total mercury; Ndungu et al 2016).…”

Section: German Submarine U-864 Wreck Norwaymentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the potential risks associated with mercury in subsea oil and gas pipelines in Australia

et al. 2022

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Environmental context The oil and gas industry has a significant liability in decommissioning offshore infrastructure. Following decommissioning, subsea pipelines could be left on the seabed to provide artificial reefs. Mercury is a contaminant of concern which could remain within pipelines. There are gaps in our knowledge on how mercury moves through the marine environment. We review the current science and identify future research needs to understand potential impacts from mercury in subsea pipelines which will better inform decommissioning activities globally. Abstract In the coming years, the oil and gas industry will have a significant liability in decommissioning offshore infrastructure such as subsea pipelines. The policies around decommissioning vary depending on regional policies and laws. In Australia, the ‘base case’ for decommissioning is removal of all property and the plugging and abandonment of wells in line with the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (OPGGS) Act 2006. Options other than complete removal may be considered where the titleholder can demonstrate that the alternative decommissioning activity delivers equal or better environmental outcomes compared to complete removal and meets all requirements under the OPGGS Act and regulations. Recent research has demonstrated that decommissioning in situ can have significant environmental benefits by forming artificial reefs, increasing marine biodiversity, and providing a potential fishery location. An issue, which has been given less attention, is around contaminants remaining within decommissioned infrastructure and their potential risks to the marine environment. Mercury is a contaminant of concern known to be present in some oil and gas pipelines, but the potential long-term impacts on marine ecosystems are poorly understood. We present a synthesis of information on mercury cycling in the marine environment including key drivers of methylation in sediments and ocean waters, existing models to predict methylmercury concentrations in sediments, and toxicological effects to marine biota. We discuss the applicability of existing water and sediment quality guidelines, and the associated risk assessment frameworks to decommissioning offshore infrastructure contaminated with mercury. Globally, research is needed to provide a comprehensive risk assessment framework for offshore infrastructure decommissioning. We recommend future areas of research to improve our understanding of the potential risks associated with mercury in subsea oil and gas pipelines.

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Petroleum oil and mercury pollution from shipwrecks in Norwegian coastal waters

Cited by 16 publications

References 39 publications

Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Pollution From the HMS Royal Oak Shipwreck and Effects on Sediment Microbial Community Structure

Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Pollution From the HMS Royal Oak Shipwreck and Effects on Sediment Microbial Community Structure

Marine debris from the past - Contamination of the Brazilian shore by a WWII wreck

A review of the potential risks associated with mercury in subsea oil and gas pipelines in Australia

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