Petroleum hydrocarbons discharges

Lee, R.F., Sauerheber, R., Benson, A.A. (1972) Petroleum hydrocarbons Uptake and discharge by the marine mussel Mytilus edulis. 

In addition to large oil spills, petroleum hydrocarbons are released into the aquatic environments from natural seeps as well as non-point-source urban runoffs. Acute impacts from massive one-time spills are obvious and substantial. The impacts from small spills and chronic releases are the subject of much speculation and continued research. Clearly, these inputs of petroleum hydrocarbons have the potential for significant environmental impacts, but the effects of chronic low-level discharges can be minimized by the net assimilative capacities of many ecosystems, resulting in little detectable environmental harm. 

Bio-Spin is an ex situ, bioremediation technology that treats soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. According to the vendor, the Bio-Spin system first screens and separates oversized debris. Then the system adds enzymes, uses rotation to mix the enzymes and contaminated soil, and then discharges the treated soil into a stockpile. The treated soil is kept separate from surrounding soils until bioremediation is complete. 

The low-temperature thermal aeration (ETTA) technology is a thermal desorption process that separates chlorinated hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (S VOCs), pesticides, and petroleum hydrocarbons from soils at temperatures of 300 to 800° F. This technology uses hot air to desorb contaminants from soil into a contained airstream and treats the airstream before discharging it to the atmosphere. The system is transportable and consists of six major components assembled on flat-bed trailers. The entire system and support areas require approximately 10,000 ft of operating space. 

Lee RF, Singer SC (1980) Detoxifying enzymes system in marine polychaetes increases in activity after exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons. In McIntyre AD, Pearce JB (eds) Biological effects of marine pollution and the problems of monitoring. Rapp P V Reun Cons Int Explor Mer 179 29-32 Lee RF, Sauerheber R, Benson AA (1972) Petroleum hydrocarbons uptake and discharge by the marine mussel Mytilus edulis. Science 177 344-346... 

Urban run-off, together with municipal/industrial discharges, are the main sources of petroleum hydrocarbons in most rivers. Eganhouse and Kaplan (1981) estimated that the world emission rate from these sources was 0.4 kg yr person" and that run-off from urban rivers contributes over 2.5 times as much petroleum to the oceans as nonurban rivers. It was also shown that, in the Los Angeles basin, the annual emission rate of hydrocarbons from paved roads was 2.9 metric tons km yr" compared with a basin-wide average of 1.3 metric tons km yr for all roads. Whipple and Hunter (1979) showed that a major source of hydrocarbons from Philadelphia was crankcase oil from garages and oil from car wash businesses and parking lots. 

Significant petrobum hydrocarbon Inputs Into the oceans related to consumptbn of petroleum include river and urban runoff, oil spills from cargo ships, operational discharges from commercial vessels and recreational craft, and atmospheric deposition of petrobum hydrocarbons. 

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