An Approach Integrating Chemistry and Toxicity for Monitoring the Offshore Platform Impacts

Abstract

In this paper we would describe a key aspect of monitoring that allows to evaluate the environmental health status, potential load of pollution on environmental matrices and effects on biota due to offshore platform presence: integrated chemical and ecotoxicological approach. The traditional chemical analyses allow to evaluate the behaviour of some environmental parameters (e.g. dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, nutrients) and contaminants when a platform is installed and/or in production phase. Chemistry gives information on the presence, quantity and chemical form of substances linked to platform activities. The integration of biological investigations allows an assessment of toxicity and bioavailability of contaminants, to understand the mechanisms of their toxic action and identification of the area of potential biological impact of platforms and/or their discharges. The purposes of this paper are to a) provide an overview the main environmental impacts of installation and production activities, b) explain the importance of an integrated chemical and ecotoxicological approach for environmental monitoring plans, in particular for offshore platform monitoring, c) present the results collected, for many years, around several gas platforms located in Adriatic area (Mediterranean Sea).