TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of chemical dispersants on feathers from Arctic seabirds
AU - Fritt-Rasmussen, Janne
AU - Linnebjerg, Jannie Fries
AU - Nordam, Tor
AU - Rigét, Frank F
AU - Kristensen, Paneeraq
AU - Skancke, Jørgen
AU - Wegeberg, Susse
AU - Mosbech, Anders
AU - Gustavson, Kim
N1 - Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/3
Y1 - 2023/3
N2 - Chemical dispersion is an oil spill response strategy where dispersants are sprayed onto the oil slick to enhance oil dispersion into the water. However, accidental application could expose seabirds to dispersants, thereby negatively affecting their plumage. To understand the possible impacts on seabirds, feathers from common eider (Somateria mollissima) and thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) were exposed to different dosages of the dispersant Dasic Slickgone NS. For all exposure dosages the feathers increased in weight, and mostly for common eider. Analysing the feather microstructure, e.g., the Amalgamation Index, showed that larger damages were found on thick-billed murre than common eider. A no-sinking limit was established at 0.109 ml/m
2. Relating this value to desktop simulations of potential sea-surface dosages in real-life situations, and to published accounts of response operations, showed that the limit is likely to be exceeded. Thus, our results show that chemical dispersants in realistic dosages could impact seabirds.
AB - Chemical dispersion is an oil spill response strategy where dispersants are sprayed onto the oil slick to enhance oil dispersion into the water. However, accidental application could expose seabirds to dispersants, thereby negatively affecting their plumage. To understand the possible impacts on seabirds, feathers from common eider (Somateria mollissima) and thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) were exposed to different dosages of the dispersant Dasic Slickgone NS. For all exposure dosages the feathers increased in weight, and mostly for common eider. Analysing the feather microstructure, e.g., the Amalgamation Index, showed that larger damages were found on thick-billed murre than common eider. A no-sinking limit was established at 0.109 ml/m
2. Relating this value to desktop simulations of potential sea-surface dosages in real-life situations, and to published accounts of response operations, showed that the limit is likely to be exceeded. Thus, our results show that chemical dispersants in realistic dosages could impact seabirds.
KW - Amalgamation Index
KW - Common eider
KW - Environmental effects
KW - Oil spill response
KW - Thick-billed murre
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114659
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114659
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36738727
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 188
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
M1 - 114659
ER -