A Lab Simulation Study on the Impact of Oil Spills on the Distribution of Heavy Metals and PAHs in Sea Spray Aerosols
Oil spills are known to release heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)into the ocean,posing a range of environmental and ecological risks.However,the entry of these pollutants into sea spray aerosol due to breaking waves is not yet fully understood.In this study,crude oil collected from different oilfields and petroleum products were applied to a set of sea spray aerosol simulator.The particle size distribution and chemical composition of heavy metals and PAHs in the sea spray aerosols produced after oil spills were analyzed.The study found that low molecular weight PAHs in light crude oil were more likely to migrate from the oil-covered sea surface to sea spray aerosols and undergo enrichment.Although the concentration of heavy metals in the background values was low,heavy metals from both diesel and crude oil spills were found to accumulate in sea spray aerosols,with concentrations ranging from 300 to 1 800 μg·m-3 and similar to those of PAHs.The thickness of oil slicks had a significant effect on the concentration of heavy metals in sea spray aerosols,showing a"decrease-increase-decrease"trend as the thickness of the oil slick decreased.This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the behavior of pollutants in sea spray aerosols and expands the understanding of the ecological risks posed by oil spills.These findings suggest that low molecular weight PAHs in light crude oil are of particular concern,as they are more easily transported into sea spray aerosols and can undergo enrichment.Additionally,the enrichment of heavy metals in sea spray aerosols indicates the potential for greater environmental and ecological risks associated with oil spills than previously thought.This study highlights the importance of considering the impact of oil spills on sea spray aerosols in future environmental risk assessments.
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维普
