Level and Degradation of Deepwater Horizon Spilled Oil in Coastal

May 9, 2012 - ...
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Level and Degradation of Deepwater Horizon Spilled Oil in Coastal Marsh Sediments and Pore-Water Michael Natter,† Jeff Keevan,† Yang Wang,‡ Alison R. Keimowitz,§ Benedict C. Okeke,∥ Ahjeong Son,⊥ and Ming-Kuo Lee*,† †

Department of Geology and Geography, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36839, United States Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States § Department of Chemistry, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604, United States ∥ Department of Biology, Auburn University Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama 36124, United States ⊥ Department of Civil Engineering, Auburn University, Alabama 36839, United States ‡

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ABSTRACT: This research investigates the level and degradation of oil at ten selected Gulf saltmarsh sites months after the 2010 BP Macondo-1 well oil spill. Very high levels (10−28%) of organic carbon within the heavily oiled sediments are clearly distinguished from those in pristine sediments (