A recent study by Curtin University has revealed that the oil spill from a vessel, which occurred three years ago, continues to impact the environment, particularly a mangrove forest near important conservation areas. Despite the passage of time, significant amounts of the spilled fuel oil remain in the ecosystem, reports Science Daily.
Oil Finger Print
Lead researcher Dr. Alan Scarlett, from Curtin’s WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said the chemical ‘fingerprint’ of the oil found in the mangrove sediments was a near-perfect match for the Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) spilled by the vessel.
“Local communities in Mauritius have been aware of oil contamination in the mangrove wetlands since the Wakashio spill, but no official confirmation had been made regarding the source,” Dr Scarlett said. Dr Scarlett said samples from the mangrove wetlands, including a reference site thought to be unaffected by the spill, were analyzed using advanced chemical techniques.
“We confirmed the reference site was free of oil contamination, while another site contained oil originating from the Wakashio’s fuel tanks,” Dr Scarlett said.
“We found the spilled oil had undergone substantial weathering and biodegradation in the three years since the accident and this had removed or reduced the levels of many of its toxic compounds.
“However, the ongoing presence of the oil could still pose an unknown risk to the sensitive mangrove ecosystem.”
In a previous collaboration with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Curtin research team obtained a unique chemical ‘fingerprint’ of the spilled oil, which enabled them to confirm its presence in the mangrove sediments.
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Source: Science Daily
