Science in support of the
            <i>Deepwater Horizon</i>
            response

Lubchenco, Jane; McNutt, Marcia; Dreyfus, G.; Murawski, Steven A.; Kennedy, David M.; Anastas, Paul T.; Chu, Steven; Hunter, Tom

doi:10.1073/pnas.1204729109

Cited by 135 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…One of the primary aims of applying dispersants is to stimulate microbial biodegradation that leads to the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons (13,45,48). Past studies have typically focused on quantifying changes to biodegradation based on dispersant application and maximizing microbial community biodegradation ac- tivity (see the review by Prince [3] and references therein).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria Exhibit a Species-Specific Response to Dispersed Oil while Moderating Ecotoxicity

Overholt

Marks

Romero

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The Deepwater Horizon blowout in April 2010 represented the largest accidental marine oil spill and the largest release of chemical dispersants into the environment to date. While dispersant application may provide numerous benefits to oil spill response efforts, the impacts of dispersants and potential synergistic effects with crude oil on individual hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria are poorly understood. In this study, two environmentally relevant species of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were utilized to quantify the response to Macondo crude oil and Corexit 9500A-dispersed oil in terms of bacterial growth and oil degradation potential. In addition, specific hydrocarbon compounds were quantified in the dissolved phase of the medium and linked to ecotoxicity using a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved rotifer assay. Bacterial treatment significantly and drastically reduced the toxicity associated with dispersed oil (increasing the 50% lethal concentration [LC 50 ] by 215%). The growth and crude oil degradation potential of Acinetobacter were inhibited by Corexit by 34% and 40%, respectively; conversely, Corexit significantly enhanced the growth of Alcanivorax by 10% relative to that in undispersed oil. Furthermore, both bacterial strains were shown to grow with Corexit as the sole carbon and energy source. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial species demonstrate a unique response to dispersed oil compared to their response to crude oil, with potentially opposing effects on toxicity. While some species have the potential to enhance the toxicity of crude oil by producing biosurfactants, the same bacteria may reduce the toxicity associated with dispersed oil through degradation or sequestration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria Exhibit a Species-Specific Response to Dispersed Oil while Moderating Ecotoxicity

Overholt

Marks

Romero

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…A summary of all of the important DWH events and science applications over a nearly 5-mo period is given in ref. 1.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(The work of other scientific teams is detailed in ref. 1, and a description of teams is in SI Text. )…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By day 10 (see timeline, figure S1 in ref. 1), the DWH spill was declared the nation's first "spill of national significance" (SI Text), the USCG had established a National Incident Command, and President Obama named USCG Commandant Admiral Thad Allen as National Incident Commander (NIC). It became apparent that our nation's best scientific and engineering advice would be required to support the decisions of those people with the legal responsibility and authority to act on behalf of the American government.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to federal law (ref. 1 and SI Text describe the responsibilities of various parties), the US Coast Guard (USCG) is the On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) for maritime discharges to ensure that the responsible party, here including BP, takes appropriate actions to limit releases and clean up spills. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides scientific advice to the OSC, participates in responses executed by the OSC, and assumes significant responsibilities for damage assessment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Applications of science and engineering to quantify and control the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

McNutt

Chu

Lubchenco

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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120

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The unprecedented engagement of scientists from government, academia, and industry enabled multiple unanticipated and unique problems to be addressed during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. During the months between the initial blowout on April 20, 2010, and the final well kill on September 19, 2010, researchers prepared options, analyses of tradeoffs, assessments, and calculations of uncertainties associated with the flow rate of the well, well shut in, killing the well, and determination of the location of oil released into the environment. This information was used in near real time by the National Incident Commander and other government decision-makers. It increased transparency into BP's proposed actions and gave the government confidence that, at each stage proposed, courses of action had been thoroughly vetted to reduce risk to human life and the environment and improve chances of success.oil collection | science-based decision making | well control | Gulf of Mexico | spill of national significance

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Tracking the Hercules 265 marine gas well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2016

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On 23 July 2013, a marine gas rig (Hercules 265) ignited in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The rig burned out of control for 2 days before being extinguished. We conducted a rapid‐response sampling campaign near Hercules 265 after the fire to ascertain if sediments and fishes were polluted above earlier baseline levels. A surface drifter study confirmed that surface ocean water flowed to the southeast of the Hercules site, while the atmospheric plume generated by the blowout was in eastward direction. Sediment cores were collected to the SE of the rig at a distance of ∼0.2, 8, and 18 km using a multicorer, and demersal fishes were collected from ∼0.2 to 8 km SE of the rig using a longline (508 hooks). Recently deposited sediments document that only high molecular weight (HMW) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations decreased with increasing distance from the rig suggesting higher pyrogenic inputs associated with the blowout. A similar trend was observed in the foraminifera Haynesina germanica, an indicator species of pollution. In red snapper bile, only HMW PAH metabolites increased in 2013 nearly double those from 2012. Both surface sediments and fish bile analyses suggest that, in the aftermath of the blowout, increased concentration of pyrogenically derived hydrocarbons was transported and deposited in the environment. This study further emphasizes the need for an ocean observing system and coordinated rapid‐response efforts from an array of scientific disciplines to effectively assess environmental impacts resulting from accidental releases of oil contaminants.

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Science in support of the Deepwater Horizon response

Cited by 135 publications

References 21 publications

Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria Exhibit a Species-Specific Response to Dispersed Oil while Moderating Ecotoxicity

Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria Exhibit a Species-Specific Response to Dispersed Oil while Moderating Ecotoxicity

Applications of science and engineering to quantify and control the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Tracking the Hercules 265 marine gas well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico

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