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Intrinsic Biodegradation of Heavy Oil from Nakhodka and the Effect of Exogenous Fertilization at a Coastal Area of the Sea of Japan

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Abstract

We performed a field experiment in thebiodegradation of heavy oil spilled from the Russian tankerNakhodka on a beach in the Sea of Japan. We collectedoil-contaminated cobbles and treated half with nitrogen andphosphorus slow-release fertilizers to stimulate microbialdegradation of the oil; the other half acted as unfertilizedcontrols. The cobbles were placed in porous acrylic vessels andsubmerged. We monitored changes in the oils, macronutrients,microbial community structure and amount of chlorophyll a. There were no significant differences in these criteriabetween the fertilized and unfertilized vessels, apart from anincrease in chlorophyll a in the fertilized vessels.However, there was a major intrinsic degradation of semi-volatile oil compounds in the unfertilized vessels; this occurred at a rate similar to that in the fertilized vessels, despite the low concentration of macronutrients in the seawater at the site.

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Author notes

  1. Mao Utsumi

    Present address: University of Tsukuba, Ten-nodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan (author for correspondence

    Hideaki Maki, Mao Utsumi, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Takehiko Hiwatari, Kunio Kohata, Hiroo Uchiyama & Masataka Watanabe

  2. Nippon Institute of Technology, Minamisaitama, Saitama, Japan

    Masahiro Suzuki & Takuya Noguchi

  3. Hyogo Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

    Tomio Yamasaki & Masakzu Furuki

Authors
  1. Hideaki Maki
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  2. Mao Utsumi
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  3. Hiroshi Koshikawa
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  4. Takehiko Hiwatari
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  5. Kunio Kohata
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  11. Masataka Watanabe
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Correspondence to Hideaki Maki.

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Maki, H., Utsumi, M., Koshikawa, H. et al. Intrinsic Biodegradation of Heavy Oil from Nakhodka and the Effect of Exogenous Fertilization at a Coastal Area of the Sea of Japan. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 145, 123–138 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023628128404

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