Mesozooplankton (>200 μm) collected in August and September of 2010 from the northern Gulf of Mexico show evidence of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that distributions of PAHs extracted from mesozooplankton were related to the oil released from the ruptured British Petroleum Macondo-1 (M-1) well associated with the R/V Deepwater Horizon blowout. Mesozooplankton contained 0.03–97.9 ng g-1 of total PAHs and ratios of fluoranthene to fluoranthene + pyrene less than 0.44, indicating a liquid fossil fuel source. The distribution of PAHs isolated from mesozooplankton extracted in this study shows that the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill may have contributed to contamination in the northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.

Authors: 
Siddhartha Mitra et al
Product Number: 
ORESU-R-12-001
Source (Journal Article): 
Geophysical Research Letters 39:L01605
DOI Number (Journal Article): 
10.1029/2011GL049505
Year of Publication: 
2012
Price: 
NA
Length: 
Online, 7 pp.
Size and Format: 
8 1/2 x 11, online
Miscellaneous: 
Additional authors: David G. Kimmel, Jessica Snyder, Kimberly Scalise, Benjamin D. McGlaughon, Michael R. Roman, Ginger L. Jahn, James J. Pierson, Stephen B. Brandt, Joseph P. Montoya, Robert J. Rosenbauer, Thomas D. Lorenson, Florence L. Wong, and Pamela