Toxicity data for modeling impacts of oil components in an Arctic ecosystem

Abstract

Ecological impact assessment modeling systems are valuable support tools for managing impacts from commercial activities on marine habitats and species. The inclusion of toxic effects modeling in these systems is predicated on the availability and quality of ecotoxicology data. Here we report on a data gathering exercise to obtain toxic effects data on oil compounds for a selection of cold-water marine species of fish and plankton associated with the Barents Sea ecosystem. Effects data were collated from historical and contemporary literature resources for the endpoints mortality, development, growth, bioaccumulation and reproduction. Evaluating the utility and applicability of these data for modeling, we find that data coverage is limited to a sub-set of the required endpoints. There is a need for new experimental studies for zooplankton focused on the endpoints development and bioaccumulation and for larvae and juvenile fish focused on growth and development.

Relative sensitivity of Arctic species to physically and chemically dispersed oil determined from three hydrocarbon measures of aquatic toxicity

“…Thus, additional research on several key areas is recommended to more completely define the sensitivity of Arctic species, and in particular on the contributing factors that influence oil toxicity in the Arctic environment. Data from such studies are important in informing both modelling efforts on the impacts of oil spills (Olsen et al, 2013b) and oil spill response and planning in the Arctic (NRC, 2014), as well as allowing further and more detailed comparisons of toxicological responses between Arctic and non-Arctic species.…”

Oil droplet fouling and differential toxicokinetics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in embryos of Atlantic haddock and cod

“…Consequently, a large effort towards developing risk assessment tools for evaluating the potential impact of oil exploration in these sensitive areas has been made [5–7]. However, to develop robust models for the effects of spilled crude oil on ELS of cold water marine fish, there is a need for more experimental data on bioaccumulation and critical body burdens of toxic oil compounds [8]. Likewise, there is a lack of data on how dispersed crude oil droplets affect fish ELS [8].…”

“…However, to develop robust models for the effects of spilled crude oil on ELS of cold water marine fish, there is a need for more experimental data on bioaccumulation and critical body burdens of toxic oil compounds [8]. Likewise, there is a lack of data on how dispersed crude oil droplets affect fish ELS [8]. Along with dissolution of the water-soluble fraction (WSF), formation of dispersed oil droplets is considered one of the most important processes influencing the fate of spilled crude oil.…”

A re‐evaluation of PETROTOX for predicting acute and chronic toxicity of petroleum substances

“…[1,2]. It has been broadly applied to assess aquatic, soil, and sediment toxicity, multimedia exposures, product and site risk, and life cycle, in a variety of other research and regulatory contexts [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”