Bioremediation of Marine Oil Spills

Abstract

Summary Bioremediation offers an environmentally appropriate and cost-effective response to marine oil spills that reach shore and is deservedly part of the “tool kit” available to spill responders. This chapter provides an overview of the composition of crude oil and the refined fractions that may be spilled at sea, discusses the diversity of organisms able to degrade oil components, and describes strategies for encouraging the growth of such organisms. It describes how bioremediation can be integrated with physical techniques to deliver an optimal cleanup and also discusses the environmental harm that might be done if bioremediation were applied carelessly and how this potential can be minimized. Crude oils are principally hydrocarbons, molecules composed of only carbon and hydrogen, and the hydrogen-to-carbon ratio is typically between 1.5 and 2. Fertilizer is typically applied to the surface of oiled sediments. Although bioremediation by addition of fertilizers will speed the biodegradation of an oil spill and thereby diminish its environmental impact, it is important to bear in mind that careless application of fertilizers may have unwanted negative impacts on the environment, and they should be used with care. In conclusion, bioremediation is not the panacea for mitigating oil spills-but it is an important tool in reducing the ecological impact of some oil spills.