A Survey of Literature on Oil Spill Effects on Marine Organisms on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada With a Focus on Bitumen Related Products

A Survey of Literature on Oil Spill Effects on Marine Organisms on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada With a Focus on Bitumen Related Products A literature review, focusing on oil sand products (e.g., diluted bitumen), diluents, spill-treating agents, and crude oil toxicology and ecological studies, relevant to the northeast Pacific was compiled as part of the Government of Canada’s World Class Tanker Safety program. Of the 763 references identified, 14 involved diluted bitumen and other heavy crude oils, indicating the need for further research of these products in the marine environment. Diluent research suggests relatively fast evaporation and dispersion times for this component, however high toxicities may pose a threat to marine biota. Historical studies indicate older dispersant formulations had potential ecological implications, therefore newer formulations, which have not been studied in detail, require full assessment. Consistent utilization of toxicology standards remains elusive, hindering species sensitivity analyses. Exxon Valdez literature demonstrates highly variable impacts from a single oil type and the need for baseline data, recovery status, and suitable ecological end-point determination. 2023-07-11 Fisheries and Oceans Canada Herb.Herunter@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Nature and EnvironmentPacificBritish ColumbiaLiteratureOil spillsMarine biology Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3219: A Survey of Literature on Oil Spill Effects on Marine Organisms on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada With a Focus on Bitumen Related ProductsPDF https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/40622538.pdf A survey of literature on oil spill effects on marine organisms on the West Coast of BC Canada with a focus on bitumen related productsCSV https://pacgis01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/FGPPublic/Survey_Literature_Oil_Spill_Effects_Marine_Organisms_West_Coast_BC_With_Focus_Bitumen/A_Survey_of_Literature_on_Oil_Spill_Effects_on_Marine_Organisms_on_the_West_Coast_of_British_Columbia.csv A survey of literature on oil spill effects on marine organisms on the West Coast of BC Canada with a focus on bitumen related productsCSV https://pacgis01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/FGPPublic/Survey_Literature_Oil_Spill_Effects_Marine_Organisms_West_Coast_BC_With_Focus_Bitumen/Examen_de_la_documentation_sur_les_effets_des_déversements_de_pétrole_sur_les_organismes_marins_sur_la_côte_ouest_de_la_Colombie-Britannique.csv Oil Spill Effects - Data DictionaryHTML https://pacgis01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/FGPPublic/Survey_Literature_Oil_Spill_Effects_Marine_Organisms_West_Coast_BC_With_Focus_Bitumen/Oil_Spill_Effects-Data_Dictionary.htm Oil Spill Effects - Data DictionaryHTML https://pacgis01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/FGPPublic/Survey_Literature_Oil_Spill_Effects_Marine_Organisms_West_Coast_BC_With_Focus_Bitumen/Effets_Des_Déversements_D'hydrocarbures-Dictionnaire_De_Données.htm Oil Spill Effects - Code LegendHTML https://pacgis01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/FGPPublic/Survey_Literature_Oil_Spill_Effects_Marine_Organisms_West_Coast_BC_With_Focus_Bitumen/Oil_Spill_Effects-Code_Legend.htm Oil Spill Effects - Code LegendHTML https://pacgis01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/FGPPublic/Survey_Literature_Oil_Spill_Effects_Marine_Organisms_West_Coast_BC_With_Focus_Bitumen/Effets_Des_Déversements_D'hydrocarbures-Légende_Des_Codes.htm Oil Spill Effects on the West Coast of British ColumbiaESRI REST https://gisp.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/FGP/Oil_Spill_Effects_on_the_West_Coast_of_BC/MapServer/0 Oil Spill Effects on the West Coast of British ColumbiaESRI REST https://gisp.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/FGP/Oil_Spill_Effects_on_the_West_Coast_of_BC/MapServer/1

A literature review, focusing on oil sand products (e.g., diluted bitumen), diluents, spill-treating agents, and crude oil toxicology and ecological studies, relevant to the northeast Pacific was compiled as part of the Government of Canada’s World Class Tanker Safety program. Of the 763 references identified, 14 involved diluted bitumen and other heavy crude oils, indicating the need for further research of these products in the marine environment. Diluent research suggests relatively fast evaporation and dispersion times for this component, however high toxicities may pose a threat to marine biota. Historical studies indicate older dispersant formulations had potential ecological implications, therefore newer formulations, which have not been studied in detail, require full assessment. Consistent utilization of toxicology standards remains elusive, hindering species sensitivity analyses. Exxon Valdez literature demonstrates highly variable impacts from a single oil type and the need for baseline data, recovery status, and suitable ecological end-point determination.

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Delivery Point: Centre for Aquaculture & Environmental Research (CAER), 4160 Marine Drive

City: West Vancouver

Administrative Area: British Columbia

Postal Code: V7V 1N6

Country: Canada

Electronic Mail Address: Herb.Herunter@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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