To minimize the damage caused by oil spills, responders may chemically disperse floating oil into the underlying water before it contacts shorelines and wildlife. Quantifying this strategy’s net ecological and commercial benefits requires an analysis of its effects on subsurface ecosystems and biota. Unfortunately, spill-responders have little empirical data on which to base such an analysis. Herein I report the effects of dispersed oil to early life stages of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus). Medium South American crude oil (MESA) dispersed with Corexit 9500 caused blue sac disease (BSD) in embryos, but not in free-swimming embryos. The ages of embryos were negatively correlated with their sensitivity to oil, making those that were freshly fertilized the most sensitive. However, sensitivity was also high after hatch. Free-swimming embryos displayed signs of narcosis following brief exposure to dispersed oil. Gametes were also tested; dispersed oil dramatically impaired fertilization success. Toxicity was a function of concentration and duration of exposure, as well as of the life stage exposed. When the duration of exposure was < 24 h, gametes and free-swimming embryos were the most sensitive life stages (i.e. responded to the lowest concentrations). For durations > 24 h, young embryos (< 1 day old) were most sensitive. The results are presented as toxicity models that incorporate developmental stage, oil concentration, and exposure duration. Current effects-forecasting models for oil dispersion are based on published chronic toxicity data, which do not account for the effects of exposure duration and developmental events on toxicity. Thus, the results will better-enable modelers to estimate the effects of realistic exposures to dispersed oil in various locations, including spawning shoals. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2009-04-26 12:55:12.266

No description available.

L’explosion du forage et de la plate-forme pétrolière Deepwater Horizon (DWH) le 20 Avril 2010 a entrainé la plus importante catastrophe pétrolière de l’histoire des Etats-Unis, avec des quantités sans précédent de pétrole (779,000 T) et de gaz relâchées continuellement dans le Golfe du Mexique durant près de 3 mois. En retour et comme moyen de réponse, 8 million L de dispersant chimique (principalement Corexit 9500A®) furent utilisés pour disperser les nappes, dont 2.9 million L furent injectés directement à la tête du puits à 1500 m de profondeur. La marée noire coïncida avec la saison de ponte et de recrutement de l’huitre américaine Crassostrea virginica, une espèce à haute valeur écologique et commerciale dans le Golfe. En raison de ces caractéristiques biologiques (sédentaire, espèce filtreuse, répartition géographique, ponte et fécondation externe), les huitres ont été utilisées comme organisme modèle en écotoxicologie. Néanmoins, il existe très peu de données disponibles sur la toxicité du pétrole brute (HEWAF), du pétrole dispersé (CEWAF) ou du dispersant sur les jeunes stades de vie de C. virginica. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse fut 1) de déterminer les effets létaux et sublétaux d’expositions aigües et chroniques à du pétrole DWH et/ou du Corexit 9500A® sur différents stades de développement des jeunes huitres, 2) d’examiner les mécanismes de toxicité des HAP (dissouts ou particulaires) issus du pétrole et du dispersant sur des processus physiologiques sensibles, et 3) d’établir si les résultats obtenus en laboratoire correspondent aux valeurs recueillies sur le terrain lors du programme NRDA. Nos résultats ont démontré que le pétrole et/ou le dispersant pouvaient affecter la reproduction et le développement embryonnaire et larvaire de C. virginica, et que le pétrole dispersé et le dispersant induisaient en général le plus d’impact. En outre, des effets sublétaux tels que des inhibitions de croissance larvaire, de fixation ou de filtration furent observés à des niveaux d’HAP et de DOSS mesurés dans l’environnement. Ces résultats suggèrent que le pétrole et l’utilisation de dispersant, en particulier lors de la saison de ponte de l’huître, pourraient affecter son recrutement et impacter la ressource de façon délétère dans des régions touchées par une marée noire. Par ailleurs, des critères biologiques plus sensibles que la mortalité devraient être choisis et inclus dans une approche intégrative, afin d’estimer plus précisément l’impact environnemental des hydrocarbures et le devenir de ses constituants. / The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil drilling rig on 20th April 2010 resulted in the largest oil-related environmental disaster in U.S history with an unprecedented amount of oil (779,000 t) and gas discharged continuously in the Gulf of Mexico, over a period of 3 months. As a response, 8 million L of chemical dispersants (mainly Corexit 9500A®) were applied on surface to dissipate the slicks, and injected directly at the well head (3 million L) at 1500 m depths. The oil spill coincided with the spawning and recruitment season of the ecologically and commercially important Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. Due to its biological characteristics (sessile, filter-feeding, ubiquity, “free” spawner), oysters have been employed as a model species in ecotoxicology and for monitoring the environment. However, information on the toxicity of crude oil (HEWAF), dispersed oil (CEWAF) and dispersant alone (Corexit 9500A®) on early developmental stages of C. virginica are limited. The aim of this study was to i) determine the lethal and sublethal effects of acute and chronic exposure to surface-collected DWH oil and/or Corexit 9500A® on various life stages of oysters, ii) examine the mode of toxicity of oil-associated PAHs (dissolved or particulate) and dispersant on sensitive physiological processes, and iii) establish whether there is a relationship between results collected in the laboratory and field data collected during the NRDA sampling program. Our results indicated that oil and/or dispersant adversely affected reproduction and early development of C. virginica, with dispersed oil and dispersant having generally the highest impacts. Furthermore, sublethal effects such as inhibition of larval growth, settlement success or filtration rates were observed at environmentally realistic concentrations of tPAHs or DOSS. These results suggest that oil spills and the use of dispersant as a spill response, especially at the time of oyster spawning season, could affect oyster recruitment and ultimately oyster populations in affected regions. Besides, in order to assess more precisely the environmental impact of an oil spill and the fate of its constituents, meaningful endpoints other than lethality should be selected

Lors de catastrophes pétrolières, l’utilisation de dispersant est une stratégie de lutte qui permet le transfert de la nappe de pétrole de la surface vers la colonne d’eau, sous forme de gouttelettes d’hydrocarbure. En milieu côtier, la dispersion d’une nappe de pétrole est une mesure controversée car la faible profondeur de la colonne d’eau ne permet pas une dissémination rapide des gouttelettes d’hydrocarbure et expose ainsi les écosystèmes aquatiques à de fortes concentrations de contaminant. Afin d’évaluer la toxicité de l’application de dispersant en zones côtières, une approche expérimentale a été menée chez des juvéniles de Liza sp. en considérant trois scenarii : (i) la dispersion mécanique de la nappe simulant une dispersion naturelle due aux conditions météorologiques ; (ii) la dispersion chimique de la nappe simulant l’application de dispersant ; (iii) l’absence de dispersion de la nappe simulant son confinement avant récupération. La toxicité de chaque condition a été évaluée au travers d’une mesure de la mortalité sur un groupe d’individu, par l’estimation des performances de nage et de la capacité métabolique au niveau de l’organisme, et par une approche multimarqueur au niveau de l’organe.La comparaison entre une nappe de pétrole non dispersée et une nappe de pétrole dispersée chimiquement montre que l’application de dispersant entraine une augmentation des phénomènes de mortalité et une diminution, au niveau hépatique et branchial, des capacités de défense contre les xénobiotiques. A l’inverse, la comparaison entre une nappe de pétrole dispersée mécaniquement et chimiquement montre que, lorsque l’agitation de la mer est importante, l’application de dispersant ne semble pas potentialiser la toxicité du pétrole.Ces résultats suggèrent que (i) la récupération de la nappe de pétrole devrait être considérée comme une technique de lutte prioritaire sur l’utilisation de dispersant ; (ii) l’application de dispersant pourrait être considérée lors de conditions météorologique appropriées. / Dispersant application is an oil spill response technique which accelerates the dispersion of petroleum from the sea surface into the water column by inducing the formation of oil droplets. In coastal areas this response technique is controversial since the low water depth reduces the dissemination of oil droplets and by the way increases the exposure of aquatic ecosystems to petroleum. To evaluate the toxicity of dispersant application in nearshore areas, an experimental approach was conducted. Juvenile of Liza sp. were exposed to three scenarios of contamination: (i) to chemically dispersed oil - simulating, in vivo, dispersant application ; (ii) to mechanically dispersed oil - simulating, in vivo, natural dispersion due to meteorological conditions ; (iii) to an undispersed oil slick simulating, in vivo, oil slick confinement as a response technique. Toxicity of each condition of exposure was evaluated through the mortality upon a group of individuals, through the swimming performance and the metabolic scope at the organism level, and through the measurement of biomarkers at the organ level.Comparison between an undispersed oil slick and a chemically dispersed oil slick shows that dispersant application induces an increase of the mortality and decreases the ability of the animal to cope with environmental contaminants (deduced from gill and liver total glutathione rate). Conversely, comparison between both a mechanically and a chemically dispersed oil slick, suggests that, when sea water is under mixing processes, dispersant application does not enhance petroleum toxicity. Taken together these results suggest that (i) an oil slick must not be dispersed when recovery can be conducted; (ii) dispersant application could be considered as a response technique when meteorological conditions are appropriated.

O uso de aglomerantes na pelotização a quente de minério de ferro visa cumprir duas funções: (1) aumentar a resistência da pelota antes do aquecimento (resistência a verde) e (2) evitar o colapso das pelotas durante a queima, quando a expulsão dos gases gerados pela vaporização de água e de voláteis tende a destruir a pelota. A bentonita é o aglomerante mais empregado industrialmente, e seu mecanismo de ligação no processo de ganho de resistência da pelota já foi amplamente estudado e compreendido. Várias tentativas de substituição da bentonita na pelotização de minério de ferro recorrem ao uso de aglomerantes orgânicos cuja composição apresente propriedades aglomerantes em conjunto com dispersantes. O presente trabalho visou contribuir para o melhor entendimento do mecanismo inerente ao uso de agente coloidisante na aglomeração do material particulado no processo de pelotização, por meio da avaliação da influência dos agentes coloidisantes em comparação aos aglomerantes Peridur® e bentonita no processo de pelotização de concentrado de minério de ferro. Para este fim, foram realizados ensaios de bancada visando a identificação de possíveis ações dos aglomerantes/dispersantes na viscosidade, potencial zeta e grau de dispersão das misturas, bem como a sua influência na liberação/aglomeração dos finos. Os resultados destes parâmetros foram confrontados com os resultados de caracterização das pelotas confeccionadas com os diferentes aglomerantes/ dispersantes pelos quais foi possível identificar que os dispersantes tem forte atuação sobre o conteúdo de finos do concentrado de minério de ferro. A ação principal se dá pela remoção das partículas ultrafinas que recobrem os grãos mais grosseiros presentes na amostra e as dispersam, no caso dos dispersantes, aumentando a disponibilidade do conteúdo de finos <4 µm, principalmente os finos menores que 1 µm (coloides). No caso do aglomerante orgânico, observa-se também essa ação, no entanto, os finos presentes são aglomerados na faixa entre 26 e 4 µm. / The use of binders for iron ore pelletizing is required to: (1) increase the pellet strength before heating (green strength); (2) prevent the collapse of the pellets during firing, when the gases generated by water vaporization could create cracks. Bentonite is the main binder used in industry, and its binding mechanism in iron ore pellets has been widely studied and understood. Efforts to solve the problems of using bentonite in iron ore pelletizing have focused on the use of organic binders whose composition presents dispersant properties. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of colloidal agents compared to binders, Peridur® and bentonite, in the pelletizing process of iron ore concentrate aiming to contribute with the understanding the action of these agents in the mechanisms of agglomeration of the pellets. With this goal, bench tests were carried out to identify possible actions of binders/dispersant in the viscosity, zeta potential and degree of dispersion of the mixtures, as well as its influence on the liberation/agglomeration of the fine particles. The results of these parameters were compared with the results of the characterization of the pellets prepared with different binders/dispersants. By this study, it was identified that the dispersant has a strong influence on the fine particle content on the iron ore concentrate. The main action takes place by the removal of ultrafine particles overlying coarser grains in the sample and the scatter, in the case of dispersants, increasing the availability of fine content <4 micrometers. In the case of the organic binder, this action is also observed; however, the fines are agglomerated in the range between 4 and 26 micrometers.

Oil spills in the marine environment can threaten vulnerable ecosystems that support ecologically and economically significant organisms, such as the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), in coastal habitats. The use of chemical dispersant (Corexit 9500) was applied as a cleanup effort in response to the Deepwater Horizon blowout to minimize crude oil slicks, but also resulted in increased concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the water column. The effects of increased soluble fractions of crude oil and dispersant components may be harmful to marine organisms. This study aimed to investigate possible sublethal impacts to the eastern oyster at multiple life history stages in order to understand potential implications on performance at an organismal, population, and ecosystem levels. Specifically, this study addressed 1) veliger swimming, 2) pediveliger settlement rates, 3) pollutant induced larval inactivity and 4) adult clearance rates after acute exposures to relevant concentrations (10 – 100 µL L-1) of water accommodated fractions of crude oil (WAF) and with a combination of chemical dispersant (CEWAF). No significant differences were observed in any tested swimming kinematics between controls and WAF or CEWAF treatments after 24 hour exposures for early staged veligers at concentrations up to 100 µL L-1 WAF and CEWAF. However, settlements rates of competent pediveligers were significant decreased compared to control (52.1 % s.d. 1.66) rates at concentrations of 50 µL L-1 WAF (30.9% s.d. 6.16) and 10 (41.2 % s.d. 0.857) and 50 (22.0% s.d. 1.23) µL L-1 CEWAF. Later staged larvae also showed increased vulnerability to oil pollution given that a higher percentage of organisms were inactive (48.3% s.d. 4.80) compared to early staged larvae (12.7% s.d. 7.68 ) after initial exposure at 50 µL L-1 CEWAF. Based on this result, we assumed effects of oil pollution were not manifested until the later larval life history stage evident by metamorphosis failure during the complex settlement transformation that results in reduced spat and eventually reduced adult oysters. Adult oysters were also exposed to increasing concentrations of WAF and CEWAF for 24 hours and feeding experiments were conducted in both clean seawater and the same oiled seawater conditions as their initial exposure. Oysters fed in oiled seawater had decreased clearance rates, but oysters fed in clean water had increased clearance rates, suggesting feeding efficiency can be returned to control rates when moved to the presence of clean water. However, our long term study conducted in clean seawater suggested of the oysters exposed to crude oil only (9.31 L h-1 g-1 s.d. 2.04) are able to return to clearance rates comparable to controls (7.69 L h-1 g-1 s.d. 1.89) after the 33 day time period but oysters exposed to crude oil with a combination of chemical dispersant (2.12 L h-1 g-1 s.d. 1.08) were not. Decreased feeding efficiency can have negative impacts on water quality in estuarine ecosystems that support productive habitats. Understanding the impacts of crude oil, and crude oil with a combination of chemical dispersant on ecologically significant organisms can aid in future oil spill response decisions in order to minimize environmental impacts.

Lors de catastrophes pétrolières, l'utilisation de dispersant est une stratégie de lutte qui permet le transfert de la nappe de pétrole de la surface vers la colonne d'eau, sous forme de gouttelettes d'hydrocarbure. En milieu côtier, la dispersion d'une nappe de pétrole est une mesure controversée car la faible profondeur de la colonne d'eau ne permet pas une dissémination rapide des gouttelettes d'hydrocarbure et expose ainsi les écosystèmes aquatiques à de fortes concentrations de contaminant. Afin d'évaluer la toxicité de l'application de dispersant en zones côtières, une approche expérimentale a été menée chez des juvéniles de Liza sp. en considérant trois scenarii : (i) la dispersion mécanique de la nappe simulant une dispersion naturelle due aux conditions météorologiques ; (ii) la dispersion chimique de la nappe simulant l'application de dispersant ; (iii) l'absence de dispersion de la nappe simulant son confinement avant récupération. La toxicité de chaque condition a été évaluée au travers d'une mesure de la mortalité sur un groupe d'individu, par l'estimation des performances de nage et de la capacité métabolique au niveau de l'organisme, et par une approche multimarqueur au niveau de l'organe.La comparaison entre une nappe de pétrole non dispersée et une nappe de pétrole dispersée chimiquement montre que l'application de dispersant entraine une augmentation des phénomènes de mortalité et une diminution, au niveau hépatique et branchial, des capacités de défense contre les xénobiotiques. A l'inverse, la comparaison entre une nappe de pétrole dispersée mécaniquement et chimiquement montre que, lorsque l'agitation de la mer est importante, l'application de dispersant ne semble pas potentialiser la toxicité du pétrole.Ces résultats suggèrent que (i) la récupération de la nappe de pétrole devrait être considérée comme une technique de lutte prioritaire sur l'utilisation de dispersant ; (ii) l'application de dispersant pourrait être considérée lors de conditions météorologique appropriées.

The microbiological testing of foods is a well-established science. Due to the severity of foodborne pathogen illnesses, the widespread use and implementation of rapid detection methods in food testing labs is increasingly important. The first step for successful testing is sampling. Surfactants have been highly used in food microbiology, but there is not much, if any, published research about the use of fatty alcohols and chemical dispersants as aids in microbial separation. The microbial extraction efficiency of Escherichia coli K12 and Listeria innocua from hot dogs, spinach, and milk was measured using chemical additives (surfactants, fatty alcohols, and a chemical dispersant) in a buffer solution. Dry matter content was calculated using the oven method to determine how clean the sample was at the end of processing. Tween 80 at 0.01% was found to be the most effective additive for microbial recovery for each food matrix examined. The addition of fatty alcohols to surfactants also showed much promise in aiding separation as well as in minimizing dry matter in the final solution. However, the use of Buffered Peptone Water as the diluting agent resulted in very high recovery percentages without the need for additives.

O uso de aglomerantes na pelotização a quente de minério de ferro visa cumprir duas funções: (1) aumentar a resistência da pelota antes do aquecimento (resistência a verde) e (2) evitar o colapso das pelotas durante a queima, quando a expulsão dos gases gerados pela vaporização de água e de voláteis tende a destruir a pelota. A bentonita é o aglomerante mais empregado industrialmente, e seu mecanismo de ligação no processo de ganho de resistência da pelota já foi amplamente estudado e compreendido. Várias tentativas de substituição da bentonita na pelotização de minério de ferro recorrem ao uso de aglomerantes orgânicos cuja composição apresente propriedades aglomerantes em conjunto com dispersantes. O presente trabalho visou contribuir para o melhor entendimento do mecanismo inerente ao uso de agente coloidisante na aglomeração do material particulado no processo de pelotização, por meio da avaliação da influência dos agentes coloidisantes em comparação aos aglomerantes Peridur® e bentonita no processo de pelotização de concentrado de minério de ferro. Para este fim, foram realizados ensaios de bancada visando a identificação de possíveis ações dos aglomerantes/dispersantes na viscosidade, potencial zeta e grau de dispersão das misturas, bem como a sua influência na liberação/aglomeração dos finos. Os resultados destes parâmetros foram confrontados com os resultados de caracterização das pelotas confeccionadas com os diferentes aglomerantes/ dispersantes pelos quais foi possível identificar que os dispersantes tem forte atuação sobre o conteúdo de finos do concentrado de minério de ferro. A ação principal se dá pela remoção das partículas ultrafinas que recobrem os grãos mais grosseiros presentes na amostra e as dispersam, no caso dos dispersantes, aumentando a disponibilidade do conteúdo de finos <4 µm, principalmente os finos menores que 1 µm (coloides). No caso do aglomerante orgânico, observa-se também essa ação, no entanto, os finos presentes são aglomerados na faixa entre 26 e 4 µm. / The use of binders for iron ore pelletizing is required to: (1) increase the pellet strength before heating (green strength); (2) prevent the collapse of the pellets during firing, when the gases generated by water vaporization could create cracks. Bentonite is the main binder used in industry, and its binding mechanism in iron ore pellets has been widely studied and understood. Efforts to solve the problems of using bentonite in iron ore pelletizing have focused on the use of organic binders whose composition presents dispersant properties. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of colloidal agents compared to binders, Peridur® and bentonite, in the pelletizing process of iron ore concentrate aiming to contribute with the understanding the action of these agents in the mechanisms of agglomeration of the pellets. With this goal, bench tests were carried out to identify possible actions of binders/dispersant in the viscosity, zeta potential and degree of dispersion of the mixtures, as well as its influence on the liberation/agglomeration of the fine particles. The results of these parameters were compared with the results of the characterization of the pellets prepared with different binders/dispersants. By this study, it was identified that the dispersant has a strong influence on the fine particle content on the iron ore concentrate. The main action takes place by the removal of ultrafine particles overlying coarser grains in the sample and the scatter, in the case of dispersants, increasing the availability of fine content <4 micrometers. In the case of the organic binder, this action is also observed; however, the fines are agglomerated in the range between 4 and 26 micrometers.

Human population growth and global industrial development are driving potentially irreversible anthropogenic impacts on the natural world, including altering global climate and ocean conditions and exposing oceanic environments to a wide range of pollutants. While there are numerous studies highlighting the variable effects of climate change and pollution on marine organisms independently, there are very few studies focusing on the potential interactive effects of these stressors. The deep-sea is under increasing threat from these anthropogenic stressors, especially cold-water coral (CWC) communities which contribute to nutrient and carbon cycling, as well as providing biogenic habitats, feeding grounds, and nurseries for many fishes and invertebrates. The primary goals of this dissertation are to assess the vulnerability of CWCs to independent and interacting anthropogenic stressors in their environment; including natural hydrocarbon seepage, hydrocarbon and dispersant concentrations released during an accidental oil spill (i.e. Deepwater Horizon), and the interacting effects of climate change-related factors and hydrocarbon/dispersant exposure. To address these goals, multiple stressor experiments were implemented to assess the effects of current and future conditions [(a) temp: 8C and pH: 7.9; (b) temp: 8C and pH: 7.6; (c) temp: 12C and pH: 7.9; (d) temp: 12C and pH: 7.6] and oil spill exposure (oil, dispersant, oil + dispersant combined) on coral health using the CWC Lophelia pertusa. Phenotypic response was assessed through observations of diagnostic characteristics that were combined into an average health rating at four points during exposure and recovery. Regardless of environmental condition, average health significantly declined during 24-hour exposure to dispersant alone and increased temperature resulted in a delay in recovery (72 hours) from dispersant exposure. The overall gene expression patterns varied by coral colony, but the dispersant exposure elicited the strongest response. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that L. pertusa likely experienced varying stages of the cellular stress response (CSR) during exposure to oil, dispersant, and a decrease in pH. The most severe responses were associated with the dispersant exposure including GO terms related to apoptosis, the immune system, wound healing, and stress-related responses. However, the oil exposure induced an upregulation of metabolic pathways and energy transfer but a downregulation of cell growth and development, indicating that the coral nubbins could have been reallocating resources and reducing growth to maintain cellular homeostasis. The decrease in seawater pH elicited a similar response to oil through the enrichment of terms associated with a reduction in the cell cycle and development. Interestingly, the increase in temperature did not elicit a CSR that was detectable in the gene expression data. To further investigate the influence of hydrocarbon exposure on CWCs, comparisons of gene expression profiles were conducted using Callogorgia delta colonies that live in close proximity to active hydrocarbon seepage (“seep”) areas with no current active seepage (“non-seep”) at two different sites in the Gulf of Mexico. There were fewer differentially expressed genes in the “seep” versus “non-seep” comparison (n=21) than the site comparison (n=118) but both analyses revealed GO terms indicating slight alterations in natural biological housekeeping processes, as opposed to a CSR. Our results indicate that distinct stages of the CSR are induced depending on the intensity of stress. This bolsters the idea that there is a stress response shared by all corals in response to a variety of stressors. These data provide evidence that CWCs can be more negatively impacted, both on the phenotypic and molecular levels, by exposure to chemical dispersants than to hydrocarbons alone. Gaining an understanding of how these communities respond, not only to independent stressors, but the combination of these stressors, provides vital information about how CWC communities will fair in current and future conditions. / Biology