THE PROBLEM OF OIL POLLUTION OF THE SEA
243
that such spectra were, in general, useful more for confirming the
nature of the pollution than for identifying its source. Meinschein and
Kenny (1957) used a similar method, eluting successively with n-heptane, carbon tetrachloride, benzene and methanol. They analysed the
eluates by infra-red and mass spectrometry for the higher-boiling
hydrocarbons occurring in soils. According to Melpolder et al. (1953),
mass spectrometry permits easy calculation of hydrocarbon typeanalysis from a sample containing 0.1 p.p.m. oil.
Paper chromatography is a simple, rapid method of analysis which
has been applied to the identification of crude oils by Bhattacharya
(1961). As a technique, it has t o some extent been replaced by separation on thin layers of silica gel, alumina or porous synthetic polymers.
Thin-layer chromatography has been used mostly for aromatic or
heterocyclic hydrocarbons (Kucharczyk et al., 1963 ; Sawicki et al.,
1964; Janak and Kubecova, 1968), but Snyder (1968) has developed a
solvent suitable for the separation of saturated hydrocarbons and olefins. Gas-liquid chromatography is also rapid and very sensitive, but
until recently it was restricted to hydrocarbons of C, or less, at best,
those boiling below about 350°C (Halasz and Wegner, 1961). Ramsdale
and Wilkinson (1968), using a dual-column GLC apparatus in a programmed temperature-gradient, have since produced curves with peaks
corresponding to paraffins of C,, or higher, boiling at about 5OOOC.
The chromatogram of a fuel-oil has a general shape which distinguishes
it from that of a crude. Weathered oil from beach pollution produced
a curve generally resembling that from tank residues. Evidence of
blending can be seen in some fuel-oil chromatograms and a peak near
C,, seems typical of Kuwait crude. As well as their use in making
direct comparisons of the pollution and its possible source, it seems that
a reference collection of the gas-liquid chromatograms of typical oils
could be slowly accumulated.
IV. EFFECTS OF OIL POLLUTION
A. Mode of action and toxicity of oils
1: Birds
Most marine animals are protected from oil to some extent by the
fact that it fails to wet their exposed flesh, which is usually covered by
a film of mucus. The plumage of sea-birds is water-repellent but
oleophilic, so they lack this basic protection. Ducks, auks (razorbills
A k a torda L., puffins Pratercuka arctica L., Uria spp.-guillemots in
Europe or murres in N. America), divers Gavia spp. and penguins are
particularly at risk because they and the oil both normally occur on the
243
that such spectra were, in general, useful more for confirming the
nature of the pollution than for identifying its source. Meinschein and
Kenny (1957) used a similar method, eluting successively with n-heptane, carbon tetrachloride, benzene and methanol. They analysed the
eluates by infra-red and mass spectrometry for the higher-boiling
hydrocarbons occurring in soils. According to Melpolder et al. (1953),
mass spectrometry permits easy calculation of hydrocarbon typeanalysis from a sample containing 0.1 p.p.m. oil.
Paper chromatography is a simple, rapid method of analysis which
has been applied to the identification of crude oils by Bhattacharya
(1961). As a technique, it has t o some extent been replaced by separation on thin layers of silica gel, alumina or porous synthetic polymers.
Thin-layer chromatography has been used mostly for aromatic or
heterocyclic hydrocarbons (Kucharczyk et al., 1963 ; Sawicki et al.,
1964; Janak and Kubecova, 1968), but Snyder (1968) has developed a
solvent suitable for the separation of saturated hydrocarbons and olefins. Gas-liquid chromatography is also rapid and very sensitive, but
until recently it was restricted to hydrocarbons of C, or less, at best,
those boiling below about 350°C (Halasz and Wegner, 1961). Ramsdale
and Wilkinson (1968), using a dual-column GLC apparatus in a programmed temperature-gradient, have since produced curves with peaks
corresponding to paraffins of C,, or higher, boiling at about 5OOOC.
The chromatogram of a fuel-oil has a general shape which distinguishes
it from that of a crude. Weathered oil from beach pollution produced
a curve generally resembling that from tank residues. Evidence of
blending can be seen in some fuel-oil chromatograms and a peak near
C,, seems typical of Kuwait crude. As well as their use in making
direct comparisons of the pollution and its possible source, it seems that
a reference collection of the gas-liquid chromatograms of typical oils
could be slowly accumulated.
IV. EFFECTS OF OIL POLLUTION
A. Mode of action and toxicity of oils
1: Birds
Most marine animals are protected from oil to some extent by the
fact that it fails to wet their exposed flesh, which is usually covered by
a film of mucus. The plumage of sea-birds is water-repellent but
oleophilic, so they lack this basic protection. Ducks, auks (razorbills
A k a torda L., puffins Pratercuka arctica L., Uria spp.-guillemots in
Europe or murres in N. America), divers Gavia spp. and penguins are
particularly at risk because they and the oil both normally occur on the