ABSTRACT
Acute and insidious environmental problems are associated with the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons in the marine hydrosphere. The sensitivity of estuarine and marine communities to oil contamination is well established. Oil pollution in the sea arises from multiple sources, notably spills from oil tankers, discharges during marine transportation, leakages from drilling operations, discharges from coastal refineries and marine terminals, municipal and industrial discharges, urban and river runoff, atmospheric deposition, and natural seeps. Crude oils, consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon compounds, vary widely in chemical composition and physical properties. The form and behavior of oil spilled at sea are contingent upon its composition, as well as various abiotic (e.g., water temperature, wind, tides, wave action, currents) and biotic (e.g., microbial activity) factors. Marine fauna and flora are highly susceptible to the toxic effects of oil and oil fractions.
