Fate and Effects of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Marine Organisms and Ecosystems is a collection of papers presented at the international symposium by the same title, held at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Washington on November 10-12, 1976. This book is organized into three parts encompassing 46 chapters. Part I deals with the inputs and physical transport processes influencing the distribution and composition of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine systems. Part II discusses the bioaccumulation and metabolism of hydrocarbons by marine organisms. Part III contains papers that tackle the biological and ecological effects of petroleum exposure in marine systems. This book is of great value to marine and environmental scientists and researchers.

"This study of the South Texas Outer Continental Shelf (STOCS) was conducted on behalf of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management...The resultant data from this investigation represent the first step in understanding how to assess and control the impact of petroleum exploration and development in the STOCS area. The central goal of these and other environmental quality surveys of continental shelf areas is the protection of the living marine sources from deleterious effects"--Page iii.

Global findings estimate that 80 per cent of marine pollution originates from land-based sources and is trans-boundary in nature. These problems persist in spite of a number of legal and policy initiatives taken to protect the marine environment. This volume explores the applications and shortcomings of current international regimes in addressing these issues. The book identifies the sources and effects of land-based marine pollution and analyzes the problems of controlling them. Management principles, policy and regulation are examined at both regional and international level. The author discusses the strengths and weaknesses of existing regimes and advances a more effective international legal framework. The text provides a valuable insight into an important area of international environmental law. It will be of interest to researchers and policy-makers working in this area.

Since the early 1970s, experts have recognized that petroleum pollutants were being discharged in marine waters worldwide, from oil spills, vessel operations, and land-based sources. Public attention to oil spills has forced improvements. Still, a considerable amount of oil is discharged yearly into sensitive coastal environments. Oil in the Sea provides the best available estimate of oil pollutant discharge into marine waters, including an evaluation of the methods for assessing petroleum load and a discussion about the concerns these loads represent. Featuring close-up looks at the Exxon Valdez spill and other notable events, the book identifies important research questions and makes recommendations for better analysis ofâ€"and more effective measures againstâ€"pollutant discharge. The book discusses: Inputâ€"where the discharges come from, including the role of two-stroke engines used on recreational craft. Behavior or fateâ€"how oil is affected by processes such as evaporation as it moves through the marine environment. Effectsâ€"what we know about the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on marine organisms and ecosystems. Providing a needed update on a problem of international importance, this book will be of interest to energy policy makers, industry officials and managers, engineers and researchers, and advocates for the marine environment.

This volume attempts to summarize the joint efforts of a group of workers who developed systems for analysing marine pollution for use with marine animals and then use these systems to monitor certain select marine populations. Approach taken is to seek pollutant-induced changes in metabolite (e.g. glutathione, ascorbate) concentrations, in hormone concentrations, in enzymes associated with pollutant metabolism (e.g. the cytochrome P-450 mixed-function oxidase system), in immunological capacity and in cellular morphology. The work reported here details the specific methods used and summarizes the results of measurement of the parameters in both pristine and exposed animals. Not all systems exhibited changes in response to the pollutants tested; these systems are also discussed here to help others avoid these potential, but insensitive, markers.

Marine Hydrocarbon Spill Assessments: From Risk of Spill through to Probabilities Estimates describes the methods used for estimating hydrocarbon spill risks and the potential consequences. Throughout the book, mathematical methodologies and algorithms are included to aid the reader in the solving of applied tasks presented. Marine Hydrocarbon Spill Assessments: From Risk of Spill through to Probabilities Estimates provides a fundamental understanding of the oil properties and processes which determine the persistence and impacts of oils in the marine environment. It informs the reader of the current research in hydrocarbon spill assessments, starting from an assessment of a risk of a spill, and moving on to modelling approaches to impact assessments, laboratory toxicity assessments, field impact assessments and response options, and prevention and contingency planning. Identifies efficient solutions to protect coastal regions from the marine pollution of hydrocarbon spills Includes case studies examining and analyzing spills, providing lessons to prevent these in the future Covers the science of oil spills from risk analysis to cleanup and the effects on the environment