Tar ball survey of six Eastern Caribbean countries

Corbin, Cristina; Singh, Jagwinder; Ibiebele, Dagogo D.

doi:10.1016/0025-326x(93)90464-u

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…This format has been commonly used for reporting tarball concentrations on beaches (e.g. Corbin et al, 1993) and has been shown to give an accurate assessment of the amount of tar, regardless of the state of the tide or the width of the intertidal zone (Al-Harmi and Anderlini, 1980). The tarballs (including sand and rock fragments) were pre-cleaned with a knife and placed on aluminium foil for transport to the laboratory.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More tarballs were collected on the beaches in the wet season (June-November) when northerly oceanic currents and SE winds dominate. The average monthly concentrations of tar residues collected was "moderate" (10-100 g/m), following the classification of Corbin et al (1993).…”

Section: Characteristics and Monthly Concentrations Of The Tarballsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Romero et al, 1981;Asuquo, 1991;Plummer, 1996;Gabche et al, 1998;Owens et al, 2001). Tarballs are derived from floating petroleum products which may become stranded on coastlines and beaches (Corbin et al, 1993). Many tarballs are of anthropogenic origin due for example to operational losses of petroleum from offshore rigs, terminalderived oil spills, and accidental oil spillages from commercial maritime traffic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geochemical Composition of Beach Tar From the Se Coast of the Paria Peninsula, Ne Venezuela: Derivation From Natural Seepages

Márquez

Galarraga

Fernández

et al. 2013

Journal of Petroleum Geology

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Tar residues (“tarballs”) occur frequently on the SE coast of the Paria Peninsula, NE Venezuela. This paper reports on tarballs recovered from approximately 14 km of shoreline during monthly sampling over a two‐year period ending in April, 2011. The tarballs were analysed geochemically and results show that more than 70% of them could be included within a single compositional group on the basis of their physical and organoleptic properties. The tarballs were fingerprinted using biomarkers (hopanes, steranes, alkanes, aromatic steroids, phenanthrenes and dibenzothiophenes) by gas chromatography and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. Sulphur and trace element contents were also determined. These analyses indicate that the tarballs do not have an anthropogenic origin, but that they probably originated from petroleum generated by argillaceous limestones in the Turonian – Campanian Naparima Hill Formation. This formation includes marls and organic‐rich shales and limestones, and is an important source rock at oilfields in Trinidad and the southern Gulf of Paria. In the southern part of the Gulf, petroleum escapes from Neogene reservoirs to the seafloor via natural seepages associated with the Los Bajos and other fault systems. It is inferred that the petroleum is then transported by wind and tidal currents to the coast of the SE Paria Peninsula where it strands as tarballs. The geochemistry of the tarballs collected is discussed to investigate their source.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Characteristics and Monthly Concentrations Of The Tarballsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geochemical Composition of Beach Tar From the Se Coast of the Paria Peninsula, Ne Venezuela: Derivation From Natural Seepages

Márquez

Galarraga

Fernández

et al. 2013

Journal of Petroleum Geology

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“…Heyerdahl ( 1971 ) made qualitative observations of tar pollution that were observed during transatlantic voyages. Some studies of beached tar on the Atlantic coasts include physical descriptions and observations on few (<10) localized beaches (Okera 1974 ; Saner and Curtis 1974 ; Debrot et al 1995 ; Butler et al 1998 ; Gabche et al 1998 ; Debrot et al 1999 ; Marquez et al 2013 ), while other researchers conducted more extensive surveys that spanned large coastal areas (Georges and Oostdam 1983 ; Jones and Bacon 1990 ; Asuquo 1991 ; Corbin et al 1993 ; Debrot et al 2013 ).…”

Section: Distribution and Prevalencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sampling among six countries in the Caribbean illustrated that east coast beaches had higher concentrations and more frequent occurrences of tar balls due to the north and south east trade winds, as well as the influence of the Benguela and North Equatorial currents. Tar ball occurrence also reflected localized seasonal variations in the currents, wind, and wave regimes (Corbin et al 1993 ). Cordes et al ( 1980 ) and Romero et al ( 1981 ) surveyed pelagic and beached tar, respectively, in Northwestern Florida to investigate the effects of the Ixtoc I oil rig blowout that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 1979.…”

Section: Distribution and Prevalencementioning

confidence: 99%

Marine Tar Residues: a Review

Warnock

Hagen

Passeri

2015

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Marine tar residues originate from natural and anthropogenic oil releases into the ocean environment and are formed after liquid petroleum is transformed by weathering, sedimentation, and other processes. Tar balls, tar mats, and tar patties are common examples of marine tar residues and can range in size from millimeters in diameter (tar balls) to several meters in length and width (tar mats). These residues can remain in the ocean environment indefinitely, decomposing or becoming buried in the sea floor. However, in many cases, they are transported ashore via currents and waves where they pose a concern to coastal recreation activities, the seafood industry and may have negative effects on wildlife. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on marine tar residue formation, transport, degradation, and distribution. Methods of detection and removal of marine tar residues and their possible ecological effects are discussed, in addition to topics of marine tar research that warrant further investigation. Emphasis is placed on benthic tar residues, with a focus on the remnants of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in particular, which are still affecting the northern Gulf of Mexico shores years after the leaking submarine well was capped.

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