Atmospheric Distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Coastal Northern Gulf of Mexico, USA, Associated with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

摘要

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill occurred April 20, 2010 to July 15, 2010, releasing a surface slick of crude oil extending to ~176,000 km2 in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Crude oil is comprised of thousands of organic compounds, many of which are toxic or carcinogenic. There is concern that some petroleum-derived toxic and carcinogenic hydrocarbons from the DWH spill may have volatilized and transported landward to the Gulf Coast States. It is important to determine the fate of these oil-derived compounds since their landward transport and inhalation may compromise human health.