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In recent years concern about the chemical composition of wastewater generated by the oil refining industry has increased, even after its treatment. These wastewaters contain substances that can harm both the entire aquatic ecosystem and the health of any exposed organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic and mutagenic potentials of the effluent generated by the largest Brazilian petroleum refinery, the effectiveness of the treatments used by the refinery, and whether its effluent can compromise the water quality of the river where it is discarded. Chromosomal aberration and micronucleus assays were performed in Allium cepa and micronucleus test in mammalian cell culture (CHO-K1). The samples were collected in three sites at the refinery: one site on the Jaguari River and two sites on the Atibaia Rivers (upstream and downstream of the discharged effluent), under three different climatic conditions. Tests with A. cepa showed increased frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei in meristematic cells for the effluent after physico-chemical treatment, but the samples after treatment biological and stabilization pond presented none of these abnormalities. It was observed that the induced damage in the meristematic cells was not observed in the F 1 cells of A. cepa roots. The micronucleus test performed with mammalian cell culture also indicated that the effluent, after physico-chemical treatment, induced a significant increase in micronucleus frequencies. Plant and hamster cells exposed to the other samples collected inside the refinery and in the Jaguari and Atibaia Rivers did not present evidence of genotoxicity and mutagenicity in the tests performed. This study showed that the effluent treated carried out by the refinery (biological treatment followed by a stabilization pond) proved to be efficient for the removal of the toxic load still present after the physico-chemical treatment, since no change in the quality of the Atibaia River was observed. However, because this is an industry with a high production of effluent with toxic potential, its effluents must be constantly monitored, so that there is no compromise of the water quality of the receiving river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essay is presented on the history of oil company Atlantic Refining Co.'s Point Breeze petroleum refinery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the late 19th to 20th centuries. It discusses various technological and business developments in the context of a nascent industry, the struggle for engineering efficiency in a self-regulation regime, and managerial and ownership developments. It also looks at the costs of such dependence for the safety of residents, workers and the city environment.

The article discusses a study focusing on the physical and geochemical characterization of surface-water bodies around an oil refinery at Bina in Madhya Pradesh, India. Topics discussed include the environmental degradation that can be cause by oil refineries; the monitoring of physical parameters of water such as hydrogen ion concentrations (pH), electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids; and the hydrocarbons in soils and water.

The appropriate administration of the residual managerial liquids constitutes an alternative to minimize the degradation of the environment and to conserve the social environment of a town. The present work has as objective to analyze, with a social focus, the administration of the residual liquids of the State Refinery of Emeralds, Ecuador. The analysis demonstrated that the main social contradictions identified in the administration of the liquid residuals are: between the condition of public company of the refinery and their irrational behavior with regard to the conservation of the environment; between the knowledge and execution of the environmental legislation; among the importance of the company for the Ecuadorian economy and their inefficient economic acting. These alone social contradictions can be resolved with the change of the patterns of behavior of the company, because it would allow advancing in their environmental administration and in the economic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The role of thermophilic sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) Desulfotomaculum geothermicum in mild steel corrosion was evaluated by electrochemical study and surface analysis technique. In the presence of D. geothermicum, the corrosion rate was 0.0698 mmpy at 50°C, which was higher when compared to control. Polarization study revealed that the bacteria enhanced cathodic reaction and suppressed anodic reaction. XRD data revealed that the presence of FeS enhanced the cathodic reaction by the formation of a protective film on the metal surface. Pitting was observed by confocal microscopy, which may be due to cathodic depolarization. The study implicates the importance of D. geothermicum in the corrosion of cooling towers of the petroleum refinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we determine whether monetary penalties assessed against petroleum refineries for violation of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and/or the Resource Conservation and/or Recovery Act differ depending upon the racial, ethnic, and income characteristics of communities surrounding the penalized refinery. Our sample consists of all monetary penalties assessed between April 2001 and April 2003 (n = 206). We find mixed evidence of inequality. The racial, ethnic, and income characteristics of census tracts surrounding the penalized refineries are not related to penalty amounts. However, refineries situated within the boundaries of Hispanic and low-income ZIP codes tend receive smaller penalties than refineries located in non-Hispanic and more affluent ZIP codes. These disparities do not appear to be result of factors such as previous enforcement and compliance history, case characteristics, company and facility characteristics, or the political/economic climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sustainable management of voluminous and hazardous oily sludge produced by petroleum refineries remains a challenging problem worldwide. Characterization of microbial communities of petroleum contaminated sites has been considered as the essential prerequisite for implementation of suitable bioremediation strategies. Three petroleum refinery sludge samples from North Eastern India were analyzed using next-generation sequencing technology to explore the diversity and functional potential of inhabitant microorganisms and scope for their on-site bioremediation. Results: All sludge samples were hydrocarbon rich, anaerobic and reduced with sulfate as major anion and several heavy metals. High throughput sequencing of V3-16S rRNA genes from sludge metagenomes revealed dominance of strictly anaerobic, fermentative, thermophilic, sulfate-reducing bacteria affiliated to Coprothermobacter, Fervidobacterium, Treponema, Syntrophus, Thermodesulfovibrio, Anaerolinea, Syntrophobacter, Anaerostipes, Anaerobaculum, etc., which have been well known for hydrocarbon degradation. Relatively higher proportions of archaea were detected by qPCR. Archaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences showed presence of methanogenic Methanobacterium, Methanosaeta, Thermoplasmatales, etc. Detection of known hydrocarbon utilizing aerobic/facultative anaerobic (Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Longilinea, Geobacter, etc.), nitrate reducing (Gordonia, Novosphigobium, etc.) and nitrogen fixing (Azovibrio, Rhodobacter, etc.) bacteria suggested niche specific guilds with aerobic, facultative anaerobic and strict anaerobic populations. Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) predicted putative genetic repertoire of sludge microbiomes and their potential for hydrocarbon degradation; lipid-, nitrogen-, sulfur- and methane- metabolism. Methyl coenzyme M reductase A (mcrA) and dissimilatory sulfite reductase beta-subunit (dsrB) genes phylogeny confirmed methanogenic and sulfate-reducing activities within sludge environment endowed by hydrogenotrophic methanogens and sulfate-reducing Deltaproteobacteria and Firmicutes members. Conclusion: Refinery sludge microbiomes were comprised of hydrocarbon degrading, fermentative, sulfate-reducing, syntrophic, nitrogen fixing and methanogenic microorganisms, which were in accordance with the prevailing physicochemical nature of the samples. Analysis of functional biomarker genes ascertained the activities of methanogenic and sulfate-reducing organisms within sludge environment. Overall data provided better insights on microbial diversity and activity in oil contaminated environment, which could be exploited suitably for in situ bioremediation of refinery sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]