Search

Pelagic transport causes oil pollution via international tanker routes in the open ocean across southern Asia and the Indian Territory. Nutrient-rich runoff from residential, commercial, and industrial wastes, oil tanker mishaps, and sailing flags have all resulted in pollution. The natural flow of ocean water from east to west dragged pollutants into Indian Territory. We have investigated that the severe deposition of oil spills and biohazardous wastes is causing faunal mortality. Microbiome analyses helped us understand the sample's microbial load. 16S amplicon metagenome analysis, followed by enumeration and confirmation using molecular methods, indicates the presence of diverse microbial profiles. The presence of non-native hydrocarbon- and AMR-resistant bacterial taxa, such as Brevundimonas, Staphylococcus spp., Mycolicibacterium, Spingomonas spp., Bacillus spp., Chitinophaga spp., Priestia spp., Domibacillus spp., Rossellomorea spp., and Acinetobacter spp., confirms the impacts of oil and urban pollution. This indicates that the coastal soil of Goa and Andhra Pradesh has hydrocarbon- and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which confirms that the present pollution status and that high-traffic recreational activities put biodiversity and humans at risk of getting illnesses linked to antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils of two pairs of catenas were studied under conditions of petroleum-hydrocarbon (PH) contamination and lack of exposure within the Middle Taiga subzone (Tyumen oblast). The first pair of catenas were Gleyic Albic Podzol, Dystric Gleyic Histic Fluvisols, and Dystric Gleyic Fluvisols, and the second pair of catenas were Albic Gleyic Retisols, Albic Gleyic Histic Retisols, and Dystric Histic Gleysols. The effects of PH contamination on the biological characteristics of soils (respiration and catalase activity) and the possibility of their use for rationing the content of PH in soils were evaluated. The lateral migration of PH in soils prevailed over the radial one. The highest concentrations of PH were adsorbed in the upper peat layer (from 83 to 399 g kg–1). For soils of the superaqual position, a radial monotonously decreasing distribution of PH along the profile was revealed (from 40–50 to 3–4 g kg–1). The contamination of soils with PH caused a violation of the barrier and transformational hydrosphere functions of soils. The pH reaction of soils significantly changed towards alkaline (0.5 to 2.0 pH units). The accumulation of chlorides (to 0.7 g kg–1) with a maximum in soils of the superaqual position was recorded; a reliable correlation was established between the pairs: the content of PH–pH, PH–Cl–, and Cl––pH, which indicated the income of crude oil into the soil as a result of emergency pipeline brake. PH underwent changes over time: heavy high-boiling hydrocarbons (99.9%) were present in the soils after 3 years of pollution. A significant correlation was revealed between PH and basal respiration (BR): direct for humic and reverse for organic soil horizons. It was found that the microbial coefficient qCO2 in organic soils of Western Siberia decreased under oil contamination contrary to PH concentrations. A negative correlation was found between PH concentrations and catalase activity in soils (R is from –0.80 to –0.90, p < 0.05). The PH contents at which soil functioning is stable are substantiated: no more than 6.8 g kg–1 for soils of the first year of contamination and 2.3 g kg–1 for soils of contamination during 3 years and high concentrations of salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Eastern Arabian Sea (NEAS) is one of the regions highly vulnerable to oil spill pollution due to massive shipping activity, international oil tanker routes, and oil rig operations. Recent studies have indicated that Bombay High Field, located in the NEAS, significantly contributes to oil spill pollution into the sea. This study pioneers the utilization of ISRO's EOS-04 SAR data in assessing the oil pollution in the NEAS. We also tested the performance of various speckle filters for reducing speckle noise in the EOS-04 data with an oil spill event. We found that the Medain speckle filter performed better and additionally, demonstrated an example of EOS-04 oil-spill look-alike case over the Bombay High region. An inter-sensor comparison of EOS-04 against Sentinel-1 A is also carried out to evaluate the performance of EOS-04 in mapping the ocean features of oil spills and ships. Subsequently, a time series data of EOS-04 from March 2022 to November 2023 is used to quantitatively estimate the oil pollution due to oil leaks in each month in terms of spill area and volume. The distribution of oil pollution in terms of spreading area is high in October 2023 with 556 sq km (25.25%) and very low in August 2023 with 6.79 sq km (0.31%). During the study period, we estimated the total surface contamination of oil pollution to be 2193 sq km and oil released is around 435.35 tons. This study emphasizes the need to regularly monitoring and safeguard the marine environment from the unaccounted and unreported oil entering the Arabian Sea from the Bombay High Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil pollution is recognized as one of the significant threat to soil fertility and plant production. Pollution caused by petroleum hydrocarbons, reduces the hydraulic conductivity of soils, leading to increased erosion and runoff, and decreased plant growth. One practical approach for remediating soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons is using biosurfactant-producing microorganisms that can degrade these compounds. This study examined the efficacy of a microbial consortium comprising the bacterial strains Dietzia aerolata PS14B1, Kocuria salina PS12B2, and Mesobacillus harenae PS9D12 in altering the permeability coefficient of soil contaminated with high pollution (TPH). In the hydrocarbon growth and degradation test in the mineral base medium after seven days of incubation, the results showed that strains PS14B1, PS12B2, and PS9D12 were successful in reducing Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) by 25.63%, 24.11%, and 22.83%, respectively, which was significantly different from the control (P<0.05). The inoculation of the bacterial strains into the soil and subsequent 30-day incubation demonstrated a significant increase in soil hydraulic conductivity, from 1.18 cm h-1 to 9.12 cm h-1, compared to the control treatment (3.24 cm h1). These findings suggest that the bacterial consortium holds potential for the sustainable remediation of oil-contaminated sites and the enhancement of soil permeability in polluted areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation of oil pollution using free-floating aquatic plants is a promising method for water body cleaning. In this study, the influence of Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes on the degradation of oil pollution was investigated. The loss of oil alkanes and the rheological characteristics of water were evaluated, and an analysis of the emerging rhizospheric microbial communities was carried out using high-throughput sequencing. The presence of E. crassipes and P. stratiotes plants in oil-contaminated tanks had no effect on the degradation of oil alkanes. However, the presence of plants promoted the development of rhizospheric bacteria capable of growing in oil-contaminated environments. Alpha diversity of microbial communities in oil-contaminated samples was higher in the presence of plants. Additionally, plants significantly reduced the water/oil interfacial tension, which facilitated the availability of hydrocarbons for biodegradation. A difference was noted in the microbiome between E. crassipes and P. stratiotes. Changes in the composition of microbial communities highlight the potential of E. crassipes and P. stratiotes as rhizospheric hosts for microorganisms in the phytoremediation of water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline hydrolysate of chicken manure (HCM) containing artificially formed humic-like substances (HLSs) was investigated in combination with specially loaded cells (bacteria and microalgae) for oil degradation in soil. After 7 days in the laboratory experiment, the oil biodegradation efficiency in the polluted soil (50 g oil/kg soil) was 5–78% in 11 soil samples depending on the soil characteristics and used combination of additives. Higher level of oil-degradation corresponded to soil with high initial concentration of humic substances (HSs) (85–107 g/kg of dry matter). The best result in bioremediation (degradation of 82% of oil for 7 days) was achieved in experiment under field conditions with the similar initial oil pollution in the soil, when the HCM was used as additive (up to 220 mg HLSs/kg dry soil) in combination with an artificial symbionts composed of Rhodococcus erythropolis and Chlorella vulgaris cells. The introduction of HCM into oil-polluted soil with the mentioned cells led to an increase in all controlled enzymatic activities (peroxidase, dehydrogenase, phosphatase, protease, amylase, and urease) in the soil. The observed effects testified to activation of cell metabolic processes in the soil. As a result, the introduction of HCM in combination with artificial symbionts into the soil increased the rate of oil biodegradation under environmental conditions up to 1.8 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, interest in the search and study of biologically active compounds among higher basidiomycetes has increased in many countries of the world. Polysaccharides of basidiomycetes are widely used in various sectors of the national economy. Traditionally, the use of basidiomycetes is carried out in three main areas: pharmaceutical, food and environmental. In this regard, the need for these biopolymers is steadily increasing and requires the study of the properties of promising polysaccharides of fungal origin. To date, their introduction into production is an urgent task of modern biotechnology.

Purpose: Modifying soil surface conditions is essential in managing water and soil resources. Although the use of soil microorganisms in the bioengineering management in soil and water conservation has been confirmed, the controllability of the surface cracks morphometry on petroleum-contaminated soils using microorganisms has yet to be studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of inoculating soil microorganisms on changing the surface cracks' pattern of soil contaminated with petroleum. Materials and methods: In 2022, the studied soil was taken from Iran's Tehran Oil Refinery area from the top 30 cm of the earth's surface and transferred to the Rain and Erosion Simulation Laboratory of Tarbiat Modares University at the Faculty of Natural Resources. The predominant cyanobacteria of Microcoleus sp. Oscillatoria sp. Lyngbya sp. Nostoc sp, and Phormidium sp. bacteria of Bacillus sp. and Azetobacter sp. fungus of Penicillium oxalicum were identified, purified and proliferated. The study was conducted at a 0.5 × 0.5-m plot scale in two replications for four treatments. Uncontaminated and gasoil-contaminated soils, during one month, were inoculated by bacteria, cyanobacteria, and fungus. The soil was contaminated using 720 mL of gasoil evenly sprayed. The morphometric characteristics of soil surface cracks were investigated using the PCAS software. Results and discussion: Results indicated that soil microorganisms influence the soil cracking patterns. So, the mean area, length, and width of cracks increased by 99.55%, 50.90%, and 29.60% in uncontaminated plots inoculated with cyanobacteria compared to the control treatment. In gasoil treatment, fungus-inoculated soils performed better than control plots, and the mean area and length increased by 19.51% and 29.58%, respectively, while width decreased by 17.29%. Microorganisms caused the agglutination of aggregates by secreting enzymes and exopolysaccharides, stabilizing soil particles, generating cracks, covering the soil surface, and improving the soil's rheological properties. Conclusion: Finally, the results of the present study showed that modifying the surface of the petroleum-contaminated soil by inoculating soil microorganisms is a way to improve the hydrologic and rheologic characteristics of the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes a case of environmental activism after one of the largest oil spills in Peruvian Amazonia, the 2014 Cuninico oil spill. A relatively more independent judiciary, environmental legislation, and weak though autonomous regulatory agencies led to a shift in institutional opportunity structure over the previous 20 years. The embryonic environmental state produced evidence of environmental harm and sanctioned state-owned oil enterprise Petroperú. However, that was not enough to produce timely measures to protect the affected communities. Indigenous peoples affected by the spill worked with human rights lawyers and civil society coalitions to bring the company to court. Almost a decade of high court activism has meant a burdensome process of 'lawfare' with important legal triumphs for plaintiffs. In 2020, a historic ruling mandated financial compensation for affected communities. Despite these triumphs, the long wait for the restitution of justice hints at an uncertain future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, human actions aimed at maintaining dominance over the earth's natural resources have endangered the ecological balance. The irreparable damage caused by oil pollution not only impacts the environment but also affects the economy and the health of living organisms. Therefore, in addition to preventive measures, it is crucial to focus on techniques for removing this type of pollution. Bioremediation, which involves the use of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi to eliminate, decompose, or reduce pollution, offers eco-friendly and cost-effective advantages. While organisms from various domains can play a role in bioremediation, fungi stand out as promising candidates. Their metabolic abilities enable them to breakdown complex molecules, making them highly effective in degrading stubborn organic matter in nature. Fungi, often referred to as mycoremediators, have been more extensively studied for bioremediation in terrestrial ecosystems compared to aquatic environments. This review explores the research conducted on fungi and bioremediation, summarizing findings and analyzing the progress in this field from the past to the present through bibliometric analysis. The results indicate that most studies concentrate on fungi isolated from soil, with Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium strains being frequently reported. China, Iran, and Nigeria have published the most documents on this subject in the Scopus database. Utilizing a consortium of microorganisms is likely to yield better results than using a single strain. Overall, the use of fungi in bioremediation shows promise due to their specific metabolic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum pollution in soil is very damaging to the areas affected by the accidental release of petroleum hydrocarbons and has destructive impacts on natural resources and environmental health. Therefore, its monitoring and analysis are critical, however, due to the cost and time associated with chemical approaches, finding a quick and cost-effective analytical method is valuable. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of using visible near infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy to predict total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in polluted soils around the Shadegan ponds, in southern Iran. One hundred soil samples showing various degrees of pollution were randomly collected from topsoil (0–10 cm). The soil samples were analyzed for TPH using Vis-NIR reflectance spectroscopy in the laboratory and then following application of preprocessing transformation, partial least squares PLS regression as well as two machine learning models including random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) were examined. The results showed that the reflectance values at 1725 nm and 2311 nm, respectively, served as indicative TPH reflectance features, exhibiting weaker reflection with rising TPH. Among the preprocessing methods, the baseline correction method indicated the highest performance than the others. According to the evaluation model criteria in the validation dataset, the efficiency of the three selected models was observed in the following order SVM > RF > PLS regression. The SVM model provided the best performance in the validation dataset with r2 = 0.85, root mean of square (RMSEP = 1.59 %, and the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) = 2.6. Overall, this study provided strong evidence supporting the considerable potential of Visible-NIR spectroscopy as a rapid and cost-effective technique for estimating TPH levels in oil-contaminated soils, surpassing traditional chemical analytical methods. Applying the mid-infrared spectrum (MIR) in combination with Visible-NIR data is expected to provide more comprehensive and accurate results when assessing soils in polluted areas, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the results across a diverse range of soil types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Due to climate change, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent worldwide. An example of such an extreme weather event was the flooding in Western Europe in July 2021. Currently, there are large research gaps regarding how such events, particularly those involving oil pollution, affect people's connection to nature and their perceptions of environmental problems. Perceptions and connections to nature are important factors that influence environmental behavior and decisions. This study examines the influence of the exposure of oil pollution during the 2021 floods on the perception of the natural environment (connection to nature) and of environmental problems (perception of planetary boundaries). To this end, people affected by flooding who have come into direct or indirect contact with oil pollution are examined, with people from unaffected regions serving as a control group. Results No significant differences were found for both the connection to nature and the perception of planetary boundaries between the three groups studied. Connection to nature was at a moderate level in all three groups. In the case of planetary boundaries, it was observed that all boundaries were rated as significantly exceeded in all three groups. Especially the boundary of novel entities to which also oil pollution belongs, was evaluated as highly exceeded. Conclusions The results suggest that extreme weather events do not negatively impact personal connection to nature. Additionally, no significant group differences were found in the assessment of planetary boundaries, which may be attributed to the inherently high assessment scores in Germany. The study provides evidence that perceptions of environmental problems and connection to nature are relatively stable in the face of an extreme weather event with a natural trigger. Further studies are needed to investigate the reasons and consequences of this stability.

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Environmental pollution is a persistent threat to coastal ecosystems worldwide, adversely affecting soil microbiota. Soil microbial communities perform critical functions in many coastal processes, yet they are increasingly subject to oil and heavy metal pollution. Here, we assessed how small-scale contamination by oil and heavy metal impacts the diversity and functional potential of native soil bacterial communities in the gulf coast prairie dunes of a barrier island in South Texas along the northern Gulf of Mexico. We analyzed the bacterial community structure and their predicted functional profiles according to contaminant history and examined linkages between species diversity and functional potential. Overall, contaminants altered bacterial community compositions without affecting richness, leading to strongly distinct bacterial communities that were accompanied by shifts in functional potential, i.e., changes in predicted metabolic pathways across oiled, metal, and uncontaminated environments. We also observed that exposure to different contaminants can either lead to strengthened or decoupled linkages between species diversity and functional potential. Taken together, these findings indicate that bacterial communities might recover their diversity levels after contaminant exposure, but with consequent shifts in community composition and function. Furthermore, the trajectory of bacterial communities can depend on the nature or type of disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, oil pollution has evolved into a global environmental concern. One of the methods for mitigating this pollution is the use of biological approaches, especially microorganisms, known for their cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness, rendering them particularly popular among various methods. This study aimed to explore the potential growth of oil-degrading bacteria in oilcontaminated soils, as well as their ability to remove crude oil. Based on bacterial growth rates in the presence of crude oil and hydrocarbon degradation capabilities, two strains, Sludge C and SHA, were selected from among 13 isolates obtained from oil-contaminated soil near the Shiraz refinery. Subsequently, they were assessed for oil degradation using spectrophotometry and gas chromatography methods. Results indicated that Sludge C and SHA possess oil consumption abilities of 64.4% and 84.2%, respectively, within 7 days. Gas chromatography analysis highlighted SHA's remarkable capability in removing short, medium, and long-chain hydrocarbons. Molecular identification confirmed the affiliation of this strain with the genus and species Acinetobacter junii. With its high oil consumption potential, this strain holds promise for efficient utilization in environmental remediation and industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil spills are a serious pollution problem in water ecosystems, causing significant damage to living things and the environment. The demand for devices to handle oil remediation is increasing due to the frequent occurrence of oil spills. To date, numerous works have been reported to address this pollution problem, but most of them do not utilize Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Having an IoT system of this kind would improve operational efficiency by providing real-time data, alerts, and notifications of oil pollution through monitoring systems. This study presents the development of an IoT-based automatic oil-water separator device to support an oil pollution monitoring system in water ecosystems. The built device consists of sensors, a microcontroller, and an actuator, with the capability to automatically detect oil pollution and perform water-oil separation. The device incorporates a monitoring system. The water-oil separation was carried out by applying semi-permeable membrane nanotechnology. Moreover, the device has undergone a series of oily-water separation experiments to simulate oil pollution, achieving an oil separation efficiency of 62.8% (on average) with good repeatability. Additionally, the automatic device is developed with IoT pairing with a website application for an online monitoring system. Users can monitor the process using a personal computer or smartphone via the web/mobile application at any time and from any place. It is of interest to explore this further since it offers an effective and implementable method to solve oil pollution problems in real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to climate change, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent worldwide. An example of such an extreme weather event was the flooding in Western Europe in July 2021. Currently, there are large research gaps regarding how such events, particularly those involving oil pollution, affect people's connection to nature and their perceptions of environmental problems. Perceptions and connections to nature are important factors that influence environmental behavior and decisions. This study examines the influence of the exposure of oil pollution during the 2021 floods on the perception of the natural environment (connection to nature) and of environmental problems (perception of planetary boundaries). To this end, people affected by flooding who have come into direct or indirect contact with oil pollution are examined, with people from unaffected regions serving as a control group. Results: No significant differences were found for both the connection to nature and the perception of planetary boundaries between the three groups studied. Connection to nature was at a moderate level in all three groups. In the case of planetary boundaries, it was observed that all boundaries were rated as significantly exceeded in all three groups. Especially the boundary of novel entities to which also oil pollution belongs, was evaluated as highly exceeded. Conclusions: The results suggest that extreme weather events do not negatively impact personal connection to nature. Additionally, no significant group differences were found in the assessment of planetary boundaries, which may be attributed to the inherently high assessment scores in Germany. The study provides evidence that perceptions of environmental problems and connection to nature are relatively stable in the face of an extreme weather event with a natural trigger. Further studies are needed to investigate the reasons and consequences of this stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to hold the responsible parties accountable for the damage caused by oil pollution, compensate the victims, and restore the marine environment. However, the current amount of compensation is insignificant, and most oil spills occurring in Vietnam's maritime zones have not been compensated or are in the process of settlement. Several factors, especially legal issues, may contribute to this situation. This article analyzes Vietnam's legal framework for claiming compensation for damage caused by oil spills in the sea. It examines the limitations and obstacles in Vietnam's legal system from the perspective of protecting the rights of the victims of oil pollution and the interests of the ocean. It also puts forward relevant legal suggestions, which are expected to make valuable contributions to improving the compensation system for oil pollution damage in Vietnam and promoting the governance of the marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the characteristics of microbial community structure and the potential of pollution reduction and carbon sequestration in petroleum contaminated soil, four typical oil and gas field enterprises in-service well sites of eastern, central, northwestern and southwestern China are selected as the research areas, combined with 16S rRNA high-through put sequencing and bioinformatics technology, the changes of microbial community structure and main environmental driving factors of potential pollution reduction and carbon sequestration in surface soil (0-20 cm) of different oil fields were explored, and the metabolic pathways related to pollution reduction and carbon sequestration were predicted and functionally annotated. The results show that total nutrient and microbial biomass of soil in different oil fields generally exhibit the highest levels in the eastern oilfields, relatively close levels in the southwestern and northwestern oil fields, and the lowest levels in the central oil fields. The dominant bacteria in the soil of the study area were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidota and Acidobacteriota. Based on the results of VPA and RDA analysis, MBC, MBN, RubisCO enzyme activity and TPH were the main driving environmental factors affecting the change of microbial community structure in contaminated soil. Among them, TPH (r2=0.67, P=0.001), MBC (r2=0.36, P=0.004 2), MBN (r2=0.74, P=0.003) and RubisCO enzyme activity (r2=0.37, P=0.004 1) were significantly correlated with microbial community structure. The functional annotation results of KEGG database showed that the relative abundance of metabolic pathways related to microbial carbon sequestration in contaminated soils of different oilfields was significantly higher than that of metabolic pathways related to the degradation of organic matter such as petroleum hydrocarbons, and the relative abundance of the above two types of pathways was small among different oilfields. The results are of great significance to support the development of pollution reduction and sink increase technology in petroleum and petrochemical industry under the new situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of tonnes of oil lie entombed within wrecks from two world wars which, when released, can cause environmental devastation. Wrecks are predominantly risk assessed by the Global North Nations responsible, resulting in an epistemology that separates human from nature. This research aimed to decolonise risk assessments to capture the spatially heterogeneous nature of human vulnerability to oil pollution. Triangulation analysis of interviews and official reports relating to the USS Mississinewa oil spill identified three Global South issues a Eurocentric risk assessment failed to capture: region-specific meteorological conditions causing the leak, remoteness making external resources slow to arrive, and the impact of the fishery closure on traditional subsistence lifestyles. A vulnerability assessment is proposed to prioritise wrecks in susceptible locations. Recommendations are made for a collaborative approach to wreck management by including local voices, resisting the Global North assumption of generality, and recognising the priorities of those living with wrecks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‌ ∴ Introduction ∴ ‌ The prevention of pollution, particularly stemming from the oil and gas industry, stands as a pivotal measure in safeguarding the environment from irreparable damage. At its core, prevention acts as a formidable barrier against the creation of existing hazards, with a primary objective of preserving the environment. Recognizing its significance, international environmental law defines the principle of prevention as not only averting the occurrence of environmental hazards but also mandating actions that mitigate harm in the event of their occurrence. The intricate interconnection of the prevention principle with other environmental tenets, including the precautionary principle, principle of sovereignty, conservation-use, no-harm principle, principle of cooperation, environmental protection, and sustainable development, underscores its centrality in the global efforts toward environmental preservation. The repercussions of oil pollution, a subset of environmental pollution, are substantial, inflicting irreversible damage on ecosystems and living organisms. Given the transboundary nature of oil pollution, the international community has been prompted to establish a framework of regulations aimed at preventing and mitigating such pollution. This research delves into the importance of pollution prevention, examining the incorporation of this principle in both international and Iranian legal systems. The subsequent sections delve into the standards, principles, and the level of emphasis given to prevention in international and domestic laws and regulations related to the oil and gas sector. ‌ ∴ Research Question ∴ ‌ This study seeks to address the following central question: to what extent do the Iranian legal system and international legal instruments align in their emphasis on the prevention of pollution resulting from oil and gas activities? The research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the legal frameworks, exploring whether the principle of prevention is uniformly prioritized and integrated into the pertinent legislations on both the global and national scales. ‌ ∴ Research Hypothesis ∴ ‌ Based on the intricate interconnectedness of international environmental principles and the historical development of regulations following catastrophic incidents such as the Torrey Canyon oil spill, we hypothesize that both international and Iranian legal frameworks emphasize the principle of prevention in addressing pollution resulting from oil and gas activities. The hypothesis posits that an alignment exists between the global and national legal approaches, emphasizing the proactive mitigation of environmental harm through preventive measures. ‌ ∴ Methodology & Framework, if Applicable ∴ ‌ To investigate the alignment of the Iranian legal system with international instruments and regulations regarding pollution prevention in the oil and gas sector, a descriptive and comparative approach was employed. The research extensively reviewed library documents, referencing texts of conventions, and scrutinized both domestic and international regulations. The comparative framework focused on identifying commonalities and divergences in the emphasis placed on the principle of prevention. The research methodology also considered historical events, such as the Torrey Canyon incident, as pivotal moments shaping the trajectory of international environmental regulations. In navigating the comparative analysis, the study categorized legal instruments into international conventions and Iranian laws, providing a comprehensive overview of the legal landscape. By employing a meticulous examination of these documents, the research aimed to uncover the nuances in the application of the principle of prevention, providing insights into the extent to which both legal frameworks address the challenges posed by pollution resulting from oil and gas activities. ‌ ∴ Results & Discussion ∴ ‌ The analysis of international and domestic regulations reveals a significant emphasis on the principle of prevention in addressing oil and gas pollution. International environmental instruments, reflecting a collective global consciousness, underscore the critical role of prevention in averting and mitigating environmental harm caused by these pollutants. The overarching conclusion is that states are entrusted to undertake activities only if they can demonstrate that such actions will not harm the environment. This necessitates strict adherence to constitutional laws, ordinary laws, regulations, and both domestic and international customs. The prevention principle, being interconnected with other environmental tenets, resonates across various international standards, including the principle of precautionary, principle of sovereignty, no-harm principle, principle of cooperation, information disclosure, environmental protection, and principle of sustainable development. The international arena showcases a prioritization of these principles, fortifying compliance with the principle of prevention. Countries that manifest a commitment to these principles garner greater global acceptance in the ongoing fight against environmental degradation. Within the internal context, the focus on Iran sheds light on its legislative landscape encompassing laws, plans, guidelines, regulations, and standards pertaining to prevent pollution, cooperation, confrontation, preparedness, protection, rehabilitation, and identification of affected areas. While Iran aligns itself with international actions and conventions, concerns arise regarding the seventh development plan code draft, marked by generality, ambiguity, and a lack of specificity in addressing environmental issues. The need for a distinct environmental chapter, issue-oriented approaches, ecological balance considerations, and guarantees for implementation are apparent shortcomings. ‌ ∴ Conclusion ∴ ‌ In conclusion, the imperative to protect against oil and gas pollution has precipitated the establishment of various international conventions and regulations. The principle of prevention emerges as a cornerstone in this effort, both at the global and national levels. Governments, bound by this principle, are mandated to ensure that their activities do not harm the environment, necessitating compliance with a myriad of legal instruments. International collaboration is deemed crucial for the shared goal of safeguarding the environment from hazardous oil pollution. This collaboration requires continuous dialogue, legislative efforts, and the ratification of international conventions. As societies evolve, the commitment to environmental protection becomes more pronounced, with a focus on achieving sustainable development. Iran, as an oil-producing nation, aligns itself with the global community in supporting, protecting, and preventing environmental pollution, particularly from industrial oil emissions. However, as evidenced by the analysis of development plans, there is room for improvement in Iran's legislative approach. The seventh development plan code draft, in particular, reveals deficiencies in specificity, issue-oriented strategies, ecological considerations, and guarantees for implementation. Recommendations include the continuous dialogue and collaboration among countries, leveraging technological advancements for accurate prediction and simulation of future regulations, and the assessment of environmental consequences before oil exploration and extraction. Collaboration between petrochemical industries and research centers, both domestically and globally, is crucial to reducing the negative impacts of oil emissions. Specific principles and standards for oil and gas environmental protection should be recognized and emphasized in international conventions, reflecting a commitment to the overarching goal of preserving the environment for future generations.

The present paper considers the results of long-term (up to 17 years) in situ and laboratory research carried out on oiled French, Spanish, and Russian seacoasts. The objective of this research is to quantify the influence of geographical factors on the rates of natural transformation of the heavy fuel oil stranded ashore and to develop an empirical statistical model in order to evaluate the self-cleansing capacity of the coastal environment. In a number of field campaigns, 363 samples of weathered oil slicks and tar balls have been collected and analysed with the use of thin-layer chromatography combined with optical and gravimetric methods. The results obtained have been subjected to multiple nonlinear regression analyses. It has been shown that heavy fuel oil natural attenuation is more active in continental or estuarine environments influenced by nutrient-rich freshwater runoff and characterised by a higher number of sunny days, solar irradiation, and large temperature fluctuations. On the oceanic coasts, especially in sectors with low hydrodynamic energy, these processes take more time. The resulting model allows for the identification and mapping of the most vulnerable seacoasts, characterised by a low potential to degrade oil pollution. This information may be used in the contingency plans in order to optimise clean-up techniques and associated costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, oil spills have been one of the most serious ecological disasters, causing massive damage to the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems as well as the socio-economy. In view of this situation, several methods have been developed and utilized to analyze oil samples. Among these methods, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technology has been widely used in oil spill detection due to its classification method, which is based on the fluorescence characteristics of chemical material in oil. This review systematically summarized the LIF technology from the perspective of excitation wavelength selection and the application of traditional and novel machine learning algorithms to fluorescence spectrum processing, both of which are critical for qualitative and quantitative analysis of oil spills. It can be seen that an appropriate excitation wavelength is indispensable for spectral discrimination due to different kinds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons' (PAHs) compounds in petroleum products. By summarizing some articles related to LIF technology, we discuss the influence of the excitation wavelength on the accuracy of the oil spill detection model and proposed several suggestions on the selection of excitation wavelength. In addition, we introduced some traditional and novel machine learning (ML) algorithms and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of these algorithms and their applicable scenarios. With an appropriate excitation wavelength and data processing algorithm, it is believed that laser-induced fluorescence technology will become an efficient technique for real-time detection and analysis of oil spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As climate change and environmental damage in the world are rising, the need for efficient waste management and purification is ever‐increasing. At present, the existence of oil in water constitutes a large proportion of this pollution. This oil comes from various sources, including effluents released by industries and oil spills. As such, the removal of oil from marine waters is crucial to combat pollution and preserve the ecology. Bioadsorption has emerged as an efficient method, but the sustainability and eco‐friendliness of this method are yet to be seen. This review summarizes the removal of different types of oil from the marine environment using bioadsorption, i.e., adsorption by biological materials. It briefly describes the adsorption mechanism by means of various bioadsorbents with oil. The preparation and performance of different types of bioadsorbents used in industries are discussed, along with some examples of bioadsorbents that can be applied for the removal of various oils from water. Also, an overview of the regeneration of the adsorbent by various methods is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: High temperature and oil pollution are typical examples of environmental stress to sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) in northern China. Aims: Evaluate the combined effects of high temperature and oil pollution on the immune responses of sea cucumbers. Methods: In this study, we investigated the immune responses in the respiratory tree of sea cucumber subjected to the optimal temperature (16°C), high temperature (26°C), Oman crude oil (OCO) water-accommodated fractions (WAF) at 16°C (WAF + 16°C) and OCO WAF at 26°C (WAF + 26°C) for 48 h. Key results: All three treatments significantly up-regulated total antioxidant capacity and disturbed active oxygen species homeostasis in sea cucumbers. Moreover, all three treatments caused immune-enzyme activity disorders, manifested by a significant increase in acid–alkaline phosphatase and nitric oxide synthase activities and a noticeable decline in lysozyme activity. Conclusions: Combining the integrated biomarker-response index (WAF + 26°C > 26°C > WAF + 16°C), the combined stress could result in a more adverse effect on the immune responses of sea cucumbers than do high temperature or oil pollution alone, which might further exacerbate the health challenges for sea cucumbers in response to environmental stress. Implications: This study has provided an insight into the immune impacts in benthic organisms caused by high temperature and oil pollution. We investigated the immune responses in the respiratory tree of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) to high temperature, oil pollution, and the combined stress of high temperature and oil pollution. We found that acute exposure to oil pollution may have affect the immune function of sea cucumbers, whereas high temperature may exacerbate the health challenges of sea cucumbers subjected to environmental stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological and environmental impact of marine oil pollution underlines the importance and necessity of an oil spill surveillance system. This study proposes an operational automated oil spill detection and early warning system to help take quick action for oil combating operations. Oil slicks in the spaceborne Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data are detected by a trained deep learning-based oil object detector. These detected oil objects are segmented into binary masks based on the similarity and discontinuity of the backscattering coefficients, and their trajectory is simulated. The detection process was tested on one-year SAR acquisitions in 2019, covering the Southeastern Mediterranean Sea; the false discovery rate (FDR) and false negative rate (FNR) are 23.3% and 24.0%, respectively. The system takes around 1.5 h from downloading SAR images to providing slick trajectory simulation. This study highlights the capabilities of using deep learning-based techniques in an operational oil spill surveillance service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: One of the most critical environmental pollutions is oil contamination. This pollution affects biological characteristics as well as the physical and chemical properties of soil. Soil is a habitat for microbial communities whose abundance and diversity can be affected by petroleum hydrocarbons. Soil biological indicators including microbial respiration, are highly sensitive to environmental stresses and respond to them quickly. Microbial respiration is one of the most common biological indicators which is used to investigate the quality and health of the soil. Since petroleum hydrocarbons are toxic and persistent in soil, studying the pattern of changes in soil biological characteristics is important in effective soil management. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the basal respiration (BR) and substarte induced respiration (SIR) of microbial communities in the presence of oil, and how petroleum hydrocarbons can disrupt microbial respiration. Methodology: For this purpose, a total of 120 samples of crude oil-contaminated soils were collected in the oil-rich area of Naft-Shahr (located in the west of Kermanshah province) which had natural and long-term oil pollution. After measuring the physicochemical properties of soil samples microbial respiration was measured by titration method. In this research a total of 120, oil-contaminated soil samples were used. According to the factors included in this experiment, a nested design was used to analyze the data. The test factors included locations (4 locations) and 3 different levels of oil pollution (L: low, M: moderate, and H: high). It should be mentioned that 10 replications were considered in three levels of oil pollution and a total of 120 soil samples were gathered in this study (4×3×10). The collected soils were analyzed for soil texture, pH, EC and organic carbon (OC), and carbonate calcium equivalent (CCE) using standard methods. The concentration of petroleum pollutants, were determined by the Soxhlet extractor. In order to investigate the abundance of culturable microbial population, bacterial counting was carried out in nutrient agar (NA) and carbon-free minimal medium (CFMM)+crude oil media. Basal and substrate-induced respiration were measured by the titration method. Backward regression coefficients were used in order to identify important independent variables affecting changes in BR and SIR. Finally, the results of measuring chemical, physical and biological parameters were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). Findings: The results showed that the percentage of oil measured by the Soxhlet method for oil pollution levels (L, M, and H) were 4.03%, 9.95%, and 22.50%, respectively. The obtained results showed that basal and substrateinduced respiration increased with the increase in the intensity of pollution. Also, the microbial population showed a direct relationship with the increasing of the oil pollution. The highest measured BR and SIR were obtained with values of 0.053 and 0.234 mgCO2/g.h, respectively, in heavily polluted soils. Multiple regression analysis of independent variables on BR and SIR showed that the most influential variable was oil percentage, which individualy explained 59% of BR variance and 72% of SIR variance. Principal components analysis (PCA) was also done and 73% of the density variance of the samples can be justified by the first two components (biochemical component and physical component). Conclusion: In summary, according to the microbial respiration results in oil-contaminated soil, the microbial population followed by microbial respiration increased with increasing oil concentration. It seems that prolonged oil pollution has caused the selection of resistant microbial communities to the oil compounds, hence we can observe their positive response to the presence of oil compounds, and an increase in microbial respirations (BR and SIR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for practical solutions to alleviate the destructive impact of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine environments is contributing to the implementation of prospecting strategies for indigenous microorganisms with biodegradative and bioremediation potential. The levels of petroleum contamination entering the marine environment each year have been estimated at around 1.3 million tonnes, a figure that is expected to increase by 1.9% annually over the next decade. The recent interest in decarbonizing our energy system and accelerating the clean energy transition has created a demand for greener technologies and strategies to find innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective treatments for the marine environment. Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) are one of the most diverse and successful taxa in coastal–marine environments and are a relatively untapped pool of biodiversity for biotechnological applications. Recent reports have revealed the significant presence of diatoms associated with oil spills and petroleum hydrocarbon degradation. Most diatoms can secrete substantial amounts of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) into their environment, which can act as biosurfactants that, in addition to oxygen and other enzymes produced by diatoms, create suitable conditions to enhance hydrocarbon solubility and degradation into less toxic compounds in seawater. Recent reports on the biodegradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons by diatoms are indicative of the potential of these taxa to achieve success in the bioremediation of hydrocarbons in marine environments. This review highlights the main attributes and roles that diatoms could play in integrated strategies for biodegradation and bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants and as such represent a green, eco-friendly, and sustainable contribution to mitigate damage to biodiversity and value chains of marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protecting soil from pollution by oil and petroleum products is an important environmental task. Sources of oil contamination of soil are not only oil fields, but also industrial facilities that directly or indirectly use petroleum products. Of interest are studies aimed at studying the processes of changes in oil during its degradation in the soil. When oil degrades, polycondensation processes occur on the soil surface, which leads to structural changes in the oil. We compared the composition and properties of oil after production and long-term presence on the soil surface. An analysis of oil-contaminated soils was carried out at a distance of 0–5 and 0–10 m from the source of pollution and from a depth of 0–15 cm. Oils degraded in the soil are also susceptible to the effects of natural radionuclide background. In this regard, the work investigated the impact of gamma radiation on oil degraded in the soil of the Surakhani oil field of Azerbaijan. Oil samples were taken from a well and from oil-contaminated soil and separated into three components: oils, resins, and asphaltenes. The results of mass spectrometric and IR spectrometric studies of the indicated fractions of crude and degraded oil samples are presented, and the patterns of formation of gaseous products during their radiolysis are established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic hydrocarbon spills are a threat to coastal ecosystems, and their impact on the water quality along watercourses should be characterised to medium long term in order to assess the risk and define cost-effective and sustainable remediation strategies. For this purpose, a methodology for the measurement of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) on a spatio-temporal scale was designed, implemented and validated in the Punta Carnero estuary, in the Santa Elena province, western Ecuador, which is affected by hydrocarbon pollution. The selection of monitoring stations was made according to the different inflows along the water system corresponding to the different anthropogenic activities in the area, in order to assess whether the effluents involve critical levels of pollution. Measurements of hydrodynamic, environmental and vegetation cover parameters were also carried out to assess their possible variations as a consequence of the impact of the spatio-temporal TPH concentrations. An increase in hydrocarbon concentrations was observed from 2013 to 2021. Mean annual TPH levels were above the maximum allowable limit for the protection of aquatic and other wildlife in estuarine waters according to the Ecuadorian regulation for environmental quality. An increase in mangrove tree cover could contribute to an exponential decrease in contamination levels. The methodology used in this study may support the quantifying of TPH content in future applications, which is a priority task for the restoration of degraded ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper demonstrates the importance of creating optimal conditions for mineral nutrition of cereal grasses and microorganisms in oligotrophic oil polluted peat soil under remediation. To establish the effectiveness of using various forms of nitrogen fertilizers in oil pollution, changes in the agrochemical properties and enzymatic activity of the soil, the productivity of cereal grasses, and the amount of DNA prokaryotes were investigated. A significant increase in the productivity of plants and the number of bacteria and archaea in oligotrophic peat soil is shown when optimizing nitrogen nutrition, especially pronounced when introducing the ammonium-nitrate form of fertilizer. There is a close relationship between catalase activity in soil and residual oil content in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is devoted to the role of optimized nutrition and the development of a mixture of grasses in high-polluted oil-contaminated typical chernozem. The influence of different forms of nitrogen fertilizers at a moderate level of plant nitrogen supply in the presence of oil pollution has been investigated using indicators of soil agrochemical and enzymatic properties, as well as the productivity and qualitative composition of the plants used for phytoremediation. Oil soil contamination at doses of 5 and 7 g of oil per 1 g of soil significantly negatively affects the productivity rates of the used plants and leads to a reduction of their biomass and a decrease in the content of major mineral elements (NPK). The nutrition optimization by application of mineral fertilizers leads to an increase in biomass and improves the qualitative composition of plants growing under oil pollution conditions. The most favorable conditions for the growth and development of plants are associated with application of nitrate forms of nitrogen fertilizers, but not ammonium or ammonium–nitrate forms in equivalent doses. Activity rates of the studied enzymes (catalase, urease, and phosphatase) highly depend on the oil content in the soil. Application of mineral fertilizers leads to an increase of the enzymatic activity of typical chernozem proportionally to a decrease in oil content in the soil. This indicates intensification of oil hydrocarbon degradation processes associated with application of mineral fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for practical solutions to alleviate the destructive impact of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine environments is contributing to the implementation of prospecting strategies for indigenous microorganisms with biodegradative and bioremediation potential. The levels of petroleum contamination entering the marine environment each year have been estimated at around 1.3 million tonnes, a figure that is expected to increase by 1.9% annually over the next decade. The recent interest in decarbonizing our energy system and accelerating the clean energy transition has created a demand for greener technologies and strategies to find innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective treatments for the marine environment. Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) are one of the most diverse and successful taxa in coastal–marine environments and are a relatively untapped pool of biodiversity for biotechnological applications. Recent reports have revealed the significant presence of diatoms associated with oil spills and petroleum hydrocarbon degradation. Most diatoms can secrete substantial amounts of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) into their environment, which can act as biosurfactants that, in addition to oxygen and other enzymes produced by diatoms, create suitable conditions to enhance hydrocarbon solubility and degradation into less toxic compounds in seawater. Recent reports on the biodegradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons by diatoms are indicative of the potential of these taxa to achieve success in the bioremediation of hydrocarbons in marine environments. This review highlights the main attributes and roles that diatoms could play in integrated strategies for biodegradation and bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants and as such represent a green, eco-friendly, and sustainable contribution to mitigate damage to biodiversity and value chains of marine ecosystems.

IntroductionOil contamination affects the biological, physical, and chemical properties of soil. The abundance and diversity of soil microbial communities can significantly be influenced by petroleum hydrocarbons. Soil biological indicators including microbial population and enzyme activity, are highly sensitive to environmental stresses and respond to them quickly. Measuring the microbial population is one of the most common biological indicators which is used to study the quality and health of the soil. Also, measuring the activity of enzymes such as urease is one of the most sensitive indicators of oil-contaminated soils. There are some studies on the effects of oil contamination on microbial population and soil enzyme activity. Most of the studies have tested non-natural and short-term oil pollution and reported the adverse effects of oil hydrocarbons on microbial activities in soil. While the soil sample used in this research had natural and long-term contamination and the microorganisms are compatible with polluted conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the microbial population and urease activity in the presence of different levels of oil contamination, and how petroleum hydrocarbons can affect them. Petroleum hydrocarbons are toxic and persistent in soil, so it is necessary to study the pattern of changes in soil biological characteristics in effective soil management. Material and MethodsIn this study, 120 samples of oil-contaminated soils were collected from the oil-rich area of Naft-Shahr (located in the west of Kermanshah province) which had natural and long-term oil pollution. A nested design was used to analysis data in this research. The test factors included locations (4 locations) and 3 different levels of oil pollution: low (L), moderate (M), and high (H). Also, 10 replications were considered in the three levels of oil contamination. The collected soils were analyzed for physico-chemical (pH, EC, Ɵm, CCE, OC, soil texture) and biological properties (including urease activity, BR and SIR) using standard methods, and the concentration of oil pollutants was determined by the Soxhlet extractor. To determine the abundance of the culturable microbial population, bacterial counting was performed using nutrient agar (NA) and carbon-free minimal medium (CFMM) supplemented with crude oil as the media. Urease activity was measured by the indophenol blue method and finally, the results of measuring chemical, physical and biological properties were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). Results and Discussion The average percentage of oil measured by Soxhlet method was 4.03%, 9.95% and 22.50% respectively for L, M and H levels. The results showed that the microbial population increased with the increase of contamination intensity. The highest microbial population counted in NA culture medium was 9.54 ×105 CFU/g in H soils and the lowest population was 3.25 × 105 CFU/g in L soils. In the CFMM culture medium, the highest population in H soils was 11.3 × 105 CFU/g and the lowest population in L soils was 11.8 × 104 CFU/g. For both NA and CFMM mediums, location 1 had the highest population and location 4 had the lowest microbial population. Oil contamination of soil samples led to a decrease in urease activity in such a way that the highest enzyme activity in soils was obtained with low contamination (594.90 µgNH4/g.h) and the lowest activity in heavily contaminated soils (176.11 µgNH4/g.h). Also, the lowest urease activity was observed in location 1 and the highest in location 4. Principal components analysis (PCA) was also performed and 71% of the variance of the samples could be explained by the first two components (biochemical component and physical component). The results of this research indicated an increase in the microbial population with an increasing of the intensity of oil pollution. It seems that the results obtained from the studies conducted on man-made pollution and natural pollution have differences in terms of the type of biological responses. Aged, long-term and natural oil pollution has caused the selection of oil-resistant microbial community, and therefore we see their positive response to the presence of oil compounds. Conversely, urease enzyme activity was found to be higher in soils with low pollution. This suggests that microbial activity, while influential, is not the sole determinant of urease activity, and various factors contribute to Soil Enzyme Activity (SEA). The type of petroleum pollutant, the direct effect of petroleum compounds on urease-producing microorganisms, as well as the non-microbial origin of urease in soil can be possible reasons for reducing urease activity in contaminated soils. ConclusionIn areas where petroleum pollutants are naturally and long-term present in the soil, some oil-decomposing microbial groups use petroleum hydrocarbons as a source of carbon for their nutrition, so the abundance of oil-decomposing communities increases. The results showed an increase in the microbial population with an increase in the intensity of oil pollution. On the other hand, the activity of urease enzyme measured in soils with low pollution was higher because non-microbial factors may affect the activity of this enzyme and the increase in the microbial population is not related to the increase in the population of urease-producing microbes.

The most acute environmental problem in many regions of Russia and other countries is environmental pollution with oil and oil products. Soil pollution with oil products can occur in various emergencies in areas of oil production and processing, when oil pipelines break, which causes leakage and spills on the soil surface, as well as in places where oil products are distributed. The purpose of this study is to study the biological properties of soils in Kalmykia under conditions of oil and oil products pollution. The soils of the Nadezhdinskoye and Severo-Kamyshanskoye oilfi elds located on the territory of the Mekletinsky nature reserve were chosen as the objects of study. Laboratory and analytical studies, as well as sampling, were carried out using methods generally accepted in biology and soil science. The content of oil products in the soils of the oil fi eld is in a wide range: from 0.4 to 12.5%. A negative correlation was established between the content of oil products in the soil and the activity of catalase and phosphatase. Oil products have a negative impact on the growth and development of radishes. The exploitation of oil fi elds in specially protected natural areas leads to the fl ow of oil and oil products into the environment. In the soils of Kalmykia on the territory of oil fi elds, under the infl uence of pollution with oil and oil products, the activity of soil enzymes is inhibited, in addition, the soils exhibit a high degree of phytotoxicity with respect to test plants.

In this study, the effect of organic pollutants dissolved in water, which was extracted with normal hexane (HEM) on the physical properties of groundwater in the Azzab Al-Asfal district - Kirkuk, was studied, represented by viscosity, surface tension. And chemical properties: pH, basicity, acidity, chlorides, nitrates, sulfates, and chromium. The results showed that the organic pollutants are sourced from the oil wells in the (Bai Hassan) region of the North Oil Company. Oil spills and crude oil processing operations lead to contamination of groundwater in nearby areas with organic matter that has a direct impact on the physical and chemical properties of that water. As the viscosity and surface tension decreased as a result of the dissolution of some organic substances in the groundwater, these solutes acted as surface tension and viscosity reducers. Other chemical properties were also affected by human activities, as the alkalinity and acidity increased significantly while the pH remained within the medium limits. Concentrations of chlorides, chromium, and nutrients represented in nitrates and sulfates were also affected, as their levels rose beyond the normal values. The data were treated statistically using the (SPSS) software, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used as a function to find out the correlations and their size between HEM and other variables.

Phytotoxic properties of Absheron soils were studied when they were contaminated with oil and oil products. For this purpose, samples were taken from gray-brown semi-desert soil from Binagadi settlement of Absheron region and light chestnut soil from Saray settlement. Studies conducted with these soil types have shown that arid areas are not resistant to pollution by oil and oil products in terms of phytotoxicity. It was found that the soils of the Absheron peninsula contaminated with oil and oil products have a negative effect on the growth and development of test plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Persian Gulf is a transit point for a lot of crude oil at the international level. The purpose of this research is to compare two methods of biostimulation and bioaugmentation for degradation of sediments contaminated with crude oil in the Persian Gulf. In this research, six types of microcosms were designed (sediments of Khark Island). Some indicators, such as the quantity of marine bacteria, enzyme activity (catalase, polyphenol oxidase, and dehydrogenase), biodiversity indices, and the percentage of crude oil degradation were analyzed during different days (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120). The results of this research showed that the highest quantity of heterotrophic and crude oil-degrading bacteria to the sixth microcosm (stimulation–bioaugmentation), a combination of two methods bioaugmentation and biostimulation (3.9 × 106 CFU g−1). After crude oil pollution, the activity of catalase and polyphenol oxidase increased, and the dehydrogenase enzyme decreased. Bioaugmentation microcosm has the highest activity of enzymes among all studied microcosms. Predominant bacteria in each microcosm belonged to Cellulosimicrobium, Shewanella, Alcanivorax, and Cobetia. The highest degradation of crude oil is related to the stimulation–bioaugmentation microcosm. The statistical results of this research proved that there is a significant relationship between the type of method chosen for biodegradation with the sampling time and the quantity of marine bacteria. The results of this research confirm that crude oil pollution in the Persian Gulf sediments can be reduced by choosing the proper bioremediation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore oil production has experienced a post-Covid surge, and this upward trend is expected to continue in new and challenging locations, such as the Arctic Ocean which holds significant hydrocarbon reserves. Despite active drilling by Russia and Norway in the region, the legal framework for offshore oil production in the Arctic Ocean lacks a comprehensive legal liability regime for transboundary oil pollution from offshore installations. This research highlights the urgent need to address this regulatory gap and develop a legal framework that can accommodate the increased level of activity in the region while protecting the fragile Arctic ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil pollution has become a serious environmental concern. Many methods have emerged to counter this pollution, and agricultural wastes have recently been developed as absorbents for oil. To improve the oleophilic/hydrophobic properties, the sorbents are usually modified through physical or chemical treatment. However, the advantages of agricultural wastes are lost once the cost of treatment outweighs the benefits due to energy-intensive and environmentally unfriendly processes. This project aims to determine whether the pomelo peel (PP) in its raw form can be an effective oil absorbent and a filter media to separate oil from water. This project tested the oil absorption capacity of PP at different temperatures, dosages, and sample types and investigated the relationship between these factors and oil absorption capacity. The results of this work show that the gradient porous structure and the hydrophobic property of PP allow it to absorb oil effectively; oil absorbed varied with the sample type. PPs can soak up oil spills like a sponge or separate oil from water as a filter media while also reducing agricultural waste. Therefore, the pomelo peel is a non-toxic, energy-saving, eco-friendly and effective bio-sorbent for oil-polluted water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the recovery of soil quality and the bacterial and fungal communities following various recultivation methods in areas contaminated with oil. Oil spills are known to have severe impacts on ecosystems; thus, the restoration of contaminated soils has become a significant challenge nowadays. The study was conducted in the forest–tundra zone of the European North-East, where 39 soil samples from five oil-contaminated sites and reference sites were subjected to metagenomic analyses. The contaminated sites were treated with different biopreparations, and the recovery of soil quality and microbial communities were analyzed. The analysis of bacteria and fungi communities was carried out using 16S rDNA and ITS metabarcoding. It was found that 68% of bacterial OTUs and 64% of fungal OTUs were unique to the reference plot and not registered in any of the recultivated plots. However, the species diversity of recultivated sites was similar, with 50–80% of bacterial OTUs and 44–60% of fungal OTUs being common to all sites. New data obtained through soil metabarcoding confirm our earlier conclusions about the effectiveness of using biopreparations with indigenous oil-oxidizing micro-organisms also with mineral fertilizers, and herbaceous plant seeds for soil remediation. It is possible that the characteristics of microbial communities will be informative in the bioindication of soils reclaimed after oil pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine environment is a vast, complex and assorted ecosystem. This ecosystem plays an essential role in the functioning of the earth. It contains a wide range of living and non-living components. It facilitates nutrient cycling, habitat formation, world climate regulation. Unfortunately, marine pollution is a serious environmental threat that badly impacts on marine life and ecosystems. Among the verities of pollutant, oil is one of the most detrimental to the marine life and human. In this review, the impact of oil pollution, different sources of oil pollution, composition of oil, fate of oil pollution and different methods of oil clean up were covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies with integrated resource applications are likely solutions to the problem of soil pollution with oil and petroleum products. Based on our assessment of the potential for the recultivation of a plot on the territory of a rigged out reservoir tank storage, a biotechnology, including both forestry residues and biological agents capable of enhancing the soil remediation processes, was developed. After application, the technology comprising the BIOTRIN biopreparation, the GEOLEX® biogeosorbent, and bark-and-wood waste and seeds to promote revegetation showed a soil cleanup efficiency of 92–95% for 60 days. The dehydrogenase activity increased, confirming intense processes of pollutant oxidation. After 60 days, the plant cover with the sown herbs reached 85%, which characterized the purified soil as having no inhibitory effect on the growth and development of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Oil contamination affects the biological, physical, and chemical properties of soil. The abundance and diversity of soil microbial communities can significantly be influenced by petroleum hydrocarbons. Soil biological indicators including microbial population and enzyme activity, are highly sensitive to environmental stresses and respond to them quickly. Measuring the microbial population is one of the most common biological indicators which is used to study the quality and health of the soil. Also, measuring the activity of enzymes such as urease is one of the most sensitive indicators of oil-contaminated soils. There are some studies on the effects of oil contamination on microbial population and soil enzyme activity. Most of the studies have tested non-natural and short-term oil pollution and reported the adverse effects of oil hydrocarbons on microbial activities in soil. While the soil sample used in this research had natural and long-term contamination and the microorganisms are compatible with polluted conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the microbial population and urease activity in the presence of different levels of oil contamination, and how petroleum hydrocarbons can affect them. Petroleum hydrocarbons are toxic and persistent in soil, so it is necessary to study the pattern of changes in soil biological characteristics in effective soil management. Material and Methods In this study, 120 samples of oil-contaminated soils were collected from the oil-rich area of Naft-Shahr (located in the west of Kermanshah province) which had natural and long-term oil pollution. A nested design was used to analysis data in this research. The test factors included locations (4 locations) and 3 different levels of oil pollution: low (L), moderate (M), and high (H). Also, 10 replications were considered in the three levels of oil contamination. The collected soils were analyzed for physico-chemical (pH, EC, 0m, CCE, OC, soil texhure) and biological properties (including urease activity, BR and SIR) using standard methods, and the concentration of oil pollutants was determined by the Soxhlet extractor. To determine the abundance of the culturable microbial population, bacterial counting was performed using nutrient agar (NA) and carbon-free minimal medium (CFMM) supplemented with crude oil as the media. Urease activity was measured by the indophenol blue method and finally, the results of measuring chemical, physical and biological properties were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). Results and Discussion The average percentage of oil measured by Soxhlet method was 4.03%, 9.95% and 22.50% respectively for L, M and H levels. The results showed that the microbial population increased with the increase of contamination intensity. The highest microbial population counted in NA clhrre medium was 9.54 x105 CFU/g in H soils and the lowest population was 3.25 x 105 CFU/g in L soils. In the CFMM culture medium, the highest population in H soils was 11.3 x 105 CFU/g and the lowest population in L soils was 11.8 x 104 CFU/g. For both NA and CFMM mediums, location 1 had the highest population and location 4 had the lowest microbial population. Oil contamination of soil samples led to a decrease in urease activity in such a way that the highest enzyme activity in soils was obtained with low contamination (594.90 jrgNHgh) and the lowest activity in heavily contaminated soils (176.11 gNHgh). Also, the lowest urease activity was observed in location 1 and the highest in location 4. Principal components analysis (PCA) was also performed and 71% of the variance of the samples could be explained by the first two components (biochemical component and physical component). The results of this research indicated an increase in the microbial population with an increasing of the intensity of oil pollution. It seems that the results obtained from the studies conducted on man-made pollution and natural pollution have differences in terms of the type of biological responses. Aged, long-term and natural oil pollution has caused the selection of oil-resistant microbial community, and therefore we see their positive response to the presence of oil compounds. Conversely, urease enzyme activity was found to be higher in soils with low pollution. This suggests that microbial activity, while influential, is not the sole determinant of urease activity, and various factors contribute to Soil Enzyme Activity (SEA). The type of petroleum pollutant, the direct effect of petroleum compounds on urease-producing microorganisms, as well as the non-microbial origin of urease in soil can be possible reasons for reducing urease activity in contaminated soils. Conclusion In areas where petroleum pollutants are naturally and long-term present in the soil, some oil-decomposing microbial groups use petroleum hydrocarbons as a source of carbon for their nutrition, so the abundance of oildecomposing communities increases. The results showed an increase in the microbial population with an increase in the intensity of oil pollution. On the other hand, the activity of urease enzyme measured in soils with low pollution was higher because non-microbial factors may affect the activity of this enzyme and the increase in the microbial population is not related to the increase in the population of urease-producing microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]