Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8871339 | Marine Pollution Bulletin | 2018 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
In case of an oil spill, dispersant application represents a response option, which enhances the natural dispersion of oil and thus reduces coating of seabirds and coastal areas. However, as oil is transferred to the water phase, a trade-off of potential harmful effects shifted to other compartments must be performed. This paper summarizes the results of a workshop on the current knowledge on risks and benefits of the use of dispersants with respect to specific conditions encountered at the German sea areas. The German North Sea coast is a sensitive ecosystem characterised by tidal flats, barrier islands and salt marshes. Many prerequisites for a potential integration of dispersants as spill response option are available in Germany, including sensitivity maps and tools for drift modelling of dispersed and undispersed oil. However, open scientific questions remain concerning the persistence of dispersed oil trapped in the sediments and potential health effects.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Oceanography
Authors
Matthias Grote, Carlo van Bernem, Birgit Böhme, Ulrich Callies, Ivan Calvez, Bernard Christie, Kevin Colcomb, Hans-Peter Damian, Hubert Farke, Carolin Gräbsch, Alex Hunt, Thomas Höfer, Jürgen Knaack, Uta Kraus, Stephane Le Floch, Gilbert Le Lann,