Integrating Dispersants in Oil Spill Response in Arctic and Other Icy Environments

Future oil exploration and marine navigation may well extend into the Arctic Ocean, and government agencies and responders need to plan for accidental oil spills. We argue that dispersants should play an important role in these plans, since they have substantial logistical benefits, work effectively...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2018-06, Vol.52 (11), p.6098-6112
Main Authors: Lewis, Alun, Prince, Roger C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodegradation
Birds
Dispersants
Dispersion
Government agencies
Ice environments
Mammals
Navigation
Oil and gas exploration
Oil exploration
Oil spills
Polar environments
Risk reduction
Shorelines
Stranding
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Summary:Future oil exploration and marine navigation may well extend into the Arctic Ocean, and government agencies and responders need to plan for accidental oil spills. We argue that dispersants should play an important role in these plans, since they have substantial logistical benefits, work effectively under Arctic conditions, and stimulate the rapid biodegradation of spilled oil. They also minimize the risk of surface slicks to birds and mammals, the stranding of oil on fragile shorelines and minimize the need for large work crews to be exposed to Arctic conditions.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/acs.est.7b06463