M u . 7nur. Bid., Vol. 8, 1970, pi). 21.5 -306
THE PROBLEM OF OIL POLLUTION OF THE SEA
A. NELSON-SMITH
Department of Zoology, University College of Xwansea,
Swansea, Wales
I. Introduction
. . .. .. .. .. .. * .
11. Sources and Control
. .
.. .. . . .. ..
A. Tanker Operation and General-cargo Shipping
. .
€3. Harbours and Marine Terminals
. . ..
..
C. Coastal Industry and Other Sources . .
. . . .
111. Properties of Petroleum Oils
..
..
.. ..
A. Physico-chemical Characteristics
. .
.. ..
B. I3ehaviour of Spilt Oil on Sea and Shore
C. Detection and Identification . .
..
,.
* .
IV. Effects of Oil Pollution
..
. .
.. ..
..
A. Mode of Action and Toxicity of Oils . . .. ..
B. Effects on Marine Comrnunities
..
.. ..
C. Carcinogenesis . . ..
. .
..
.. ..
D. Rehabilitation of Oiled Birds . . . .
..
..
E. Public Amenity and the Tourist Industry . .
. .
V. Removal of Spilt Oil . .
..
..
..
. .
..
B. Dispersal, Sinking and Recovery at Sea
. . ..
C. Problems in Cleansing Shores . .
..
. . ..
VI. Conclusions and Prospects
. . .. . . .. ..
. .
. .
A. Bacterial Degradation and Other Biological Processes
D. Mode of Action and Toxicity of Solvcnt-emulsifiers
VII. References
.. .. .. . . . . . .
..
..
. .
..
..
..
..
. .
..
. .
..
..
..
. .
..
..
. .
..
..
..
. .
..
. . 215
.. 219
.. 219
.. 224
.. 230
.. 234
.. 234
.. 236
.. 240
.. 243
. . 243
.. 258
.. 262
. . 263
.. 264
. . 266
.. 266
.. 271
,. 214
. . 280
.. 288
. . 290
I. INTRODUCTION
The Report from the Select Committee on Science and Technology
(1968) points out that oil pollution is referred to (as " slime ") in the
Book of Genesis and by Herodotus. Such natural seepages still occur
in petroleum-producing areas, but elsewhere, oil pollution of the sea
results mainly from its transport or use as a fuel by shipping. Possibly
the first account of this was by Jonas Hanway who in 1754 complained
of leakages from wooden petroleum-barges in the Caspian Sea (Hawkes,
1961); a century later, these barges were still creating a pollution
problem on the Volga.
The first widespread use for petroleum products was in lamps,
where mineral oil began t o replace vegetable or whale oil in the mid215
THE PROBLEM OF OIL POLLUTION OF THE SEA
A. NELSON-SMITH
Department of Zoology, University College of Xwansea,
Swansea, Wales
I. Introduction
. . .. .. .. .. .. * .
11. Sources and Control
. .
.. .. . . .. ..
A. Tanker Operation and General-cargo Shipping
. .
€3. Harbours and Marine Terminals
. . ..
..
C. Coastal Industry and Other Sources . .
. . . .
111. Properties of Petroleum Oils
..
..
.. ..
A. Physico-chemical Characteristics
. .
.. ..
B. I3ehaviour of Spilt Oil on Sea and Shore
C. Detection and Identification . .
..
,.
* .
IV. Effects of Oil Pollution
..
. .
.. ..
..
A. Mode of Action and Toxicity of Oils . . .. ..
B. Effects on Marine Comrnunities
..
.. ..
C. Carcinogenesis . . ..
. .
..
.. ..
D. Rehabilitation of Oiled Birds . . . .
..
..
E. Public Amenity and the Tourist Industry . .
. .
V. Removal of Spilt Oil . .
..
..
..
. .
..
B. Dispersal, Sinking and Recovery at Sea
. . ..
C. Problems in Cleansing Shores . .
..
. . ..
VI. Conclusions and Prospects
. . .. . . .. ..
. .
. .
A. Bacterial Degradation and Other Biological Processes
D. Mode of Action and Toxicity of Solvcnt-emulsifiers
VII. References
.. .. .. . . . . . .
..
..
. .
..
..
..
..
. .
..
. .
..
..
..
. .
..
..
. .
..
..
..
. .
..
. . 215
.. 219
.. 219
.. 224
.. 230
.. 234
.. 234
.. 236
.. 240
.. 243
. . 243
.. 258
.. 262
. . 263
.. 264
. . 266
.. 266
.. 271
,. 214
. . 280
.. 288
. . 290
I. INTRODUCTION
The Report from the Select Committee on Science and Technology
(1968) points out that oil pollution is referred to (as " slime ") in the
Book of Genesis and by Herodotus. Such natural seepages still occur
in petroleum-producing areas, but elsewhere, oil pollution of the sea
results mainly from its transport or use as a fuel by shipping. Possibly
the first account of this was by Jonas Hanway who in 1754 complained
of leakages from wooden petroleum-barges in the Caspian Sea (Hawkes,
1961); a century later, these barges were still creating a pollution
problem on the Volga.
The first widespread use for petroleum products was in lamps,
where mineral oil began t o replace vegetable or whale oil in the mid215