Summary

Surface and subsurface sediments from a helipad in Bunger Hills were collected ten years after accidental contamination with a small quantity (probably less than 10 litres) of petroleum products. The contaminants are dominated by Jet A2 synthetic lubricating oil which exhibits no evidence of degradation or environmental mobility. In contrast, Jet A1 turbine kerosene is less abundant at the surface than at 20 cm depth. There is no evidence for biodegradation of the Jet A1 in the subsurface sample, suggesting that kerosene is environmentally mobile in the surface sediments.

Authors:Gore D.B. Revill A.T. Guille D. Published in: 1999 Category 1: Peer-reviewed literature Program area: Geosciences
Read publication at dx.doi.org
Gore D.B., Revill A.T., Guille D. (1999) Petroleum hydrocarbons ten years after spillage at a helipad in Bunger Hills, East Antarctica, Antarctic Science 11(4). 427-429; doi:10.1017/S0954102099000541;

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