Nationwide monitoring for baseline contamination levels of petroleum derived hydrocarbons in coastal regions of South Korea

The Hebei Spirit oil spill (HSOS) in December 7, 2007 spilled approximately 10,900 tons of crude oil in western coasts of South Korea. Insufficient and inadequate background data prior to spill impaired the assessment of oil spill impact. Background contamination data is important for establishing liability, defining restoration criteria, and estimating damages from oil spill in the marine environment. Only a few studies have been conducted so far on PAHs distribution along the Korean coastline. Those studies were limited to specific coastal areas and also to EPA’s 16 priority PAHs. The purpose of the present study is to provide current baseline level of petroleum derived hydrocarbons in the Korean coastal regions. Comprehensive distribution of petroleum derived hydrocarbons will serve as a baseline data when oil spill occurs in the coastal region. Information on hydrocarbon sources also will contribute for effective environmental damage assessments.ackground contamination data is important for establishing liability, defining restoration criteria, and estimating damages from oil spill in the marine environment. Only a few studies have been conducted so far on PAHs distribution along the Korean coastline. Those studies were limited to specific coastal areas and also to EPA’s 16 priority PAHs. The purpose of the present study is to provide current baseline level of petroleum derived hydrocarbons in the Korean coastal regions. Comprehensive distribution of petroleum derived hydrocarbons will serve as a baseline data when oil spill occurs in the coastal region. Information on hydrocarbon sources also will contribute for effective environmental damage assessments.1

The Hebei Spirit oil Spill: 10 years of multimedia monitoring of oil contamination

On December 7, 2007, the single-hulled tanker M/V Hebei Spirit collided with a crane-carrying barge more than 10 km off the Taean coast of South Korea. The spill was estimated at 12,547 kL of mixtures of three types of Middle East crude oil and impacted approximately 375 km of the western coastline. This study was conducted over a period of 10 years in the affected areas for long-term impact assessment. Immediately after the spill, the direct impact on intertidal region was found to be several tens to hundreds times higher than pre-spill contamination levels. Comprehensive investigation after spill revealed that oil contamination decreased exponentially and approached pre-spill levels at most monitoring sites. The current environmental state with respect to Hebei Spirit appeared to have recovered to pre-spill conditions when compared with the background levels of oil pollution indices. Nevertheless, it is important to note that residual oils are still found in armored-beach and mud dominant regions in Taean area. and impacted approximately 375 km of the western coastline. This study was conducted over a period of 10 years in the affected areas for long-term impact assessment. Immediately after the spill, the direct impact on intertidal region was found to be several tens to hundreds times higher than pre-spill contamination levels. Comprehensive investigation after spill revealed that oil contamination decreased exponentially and approached pre-spill levels at most monitoring sites. The current environmental state with respect to Hebei Spirit appeared to have recovered to pre-spill conditions when compared with the background levels of oil pollution indices. Nevertheless, it is important to note that residual oils are still found in armored-beach and mud dominant regions in Taean area.1

Development of risk assessment for control technology to reduce transfer of ships'biofouling:In-water cleaning technique

한국해양과학기술

Development of risk assessment for control technology to reduce transfer of ship's biofouling: In-water cleaning technique

한국해양과학기술