The Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in organic aerosal formation from unmeasured and less votalie hydrocarbons in addition to volatile ones. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Abstract Title:

Organic aerosol formation downwind from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Abstract Source:

Science. 2011 Mar 11;331(6022):1295-9. PMID: 21393539

Abstract Author(s):

J A de Gouw, A M Middlebrook, C Warneke, R Ahmadov, E L Atlas, R Bahreini, D R Blake, C A Brock, J Brioude, D W Fahey, F C Fehsenfeld, J S Holloway, M Le Henaff, R A Lueb, S A McKeen, J F Meagher, D M Murphy, C Paris, D D Parrish, A E Perring, I B Pollack, A R Ravishankara, A L Robinson, T B Ryerson, J P Schwarz, J R Spackman, A Srinivasan, L A Watts

Article Affiliation:

Chemical Sciences Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO 80305, USA. [email protected]

Abstract:

A large fraction of atmospheric aerosols are derived from organic compounds with various volatilities. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) WP-3D research aircraft made airborne measurements of the gaseous and aerosol composition of air over the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that occurred from April to August 2010. A narrow plume of hydrocarbons was observed downwind of DWH that is attributed to the evaporation of fresh oil on the sea surface. A much wider plume with high concentrations of organic aerosol (>25 micrograms per cubic meter) was attributed to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from unmeasured, less volatile hydrocarbons that were emitted from a wider area around DWH. These observations provide direct and compelling evidence for the importance of formation of SOA from less volatile hydrocarbons.

Article Published Date : Mar 11, 2011
Study Type : Review
Additional Links
Diseases : Petroleum Exposure And Toxicity : CK(51) : AC(19)

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Key Research Topics

Disease

Petroleum Exposure And Toxicity

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