16 Eki 2024 Çarşamba
Effect of dispersed oil on psammophilic hydrobionts of the Caspian Sea coast
Abstract : In cases of severe marine oil spills, dispersants - substances which, when interacting with oil, precipitate it from the surface to the seabed, are forced to be used. We have conducted experiments on the effect of different concentrations of oil treated with a dispersant - "Unipol IP 90" - on the inhabitants of the coastal psammon (freliving ciliates and Gammarus sp.). Experiments were carried out in two temperature regimes, at 120 C and 260 C, which approximately corresponds to the Caspian Sea water temperatures in winter and summer near the shores of the Absheron Peninsula. It was found that ambient temperature strongly affects the toxicity of dispersed oil, increasing at high temperatures. Consequently it is very important to consider the temperature factor when deciding on the application of dispersants for marine oil spills.