Petroleum hydrocarbons ten years after spillage at a helipad in Bunger Hills, East Antarctica

Abstract

Surface and subsurface sediments from a helipad in Bunger Hills were collected ten years after accidental contamination with a small quantity (probably < 10 litres) of petroleum products. The contaminants are dominated by Jet A2 synthetic lubricating oil which exhibits no evidence of degradation or environmental mobility. In contrast, Jet AI turbine kerosene is less abundant at the surface than at 20 cm depth. There is no evidence for biodegradation of the Jet A l in the subsurface sample, suggesting that kerosene is environmentally mobile in the surface sediments.