The Long-Term Effects of Contamination by Fuel Oil on the Coastal Ecosystem in the Onega Bay of the White Sea.

A comparative analysis of the current content of petroleum hydrocarbons in various components of the ecosystem was performed to assess the ecological state of the southeastern part of the Onega Bay (White Sea) that suffered from a spill of fuel oil in 2003. The analysis showed relatively low levels of petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations: from 0.34 to 4.55 mg/kg, with a median of 1.41 mg/kg in bottom sediments; from 9.41 to 14.25 mg/kg, with a median of 12.30 mg/kg in tissues of benthic organisms; and below 1 MPC_fishery (the maximum permissible concentration) in water. The records of low concentrations of bacteria that use petroleum hydrocarbons (fuel oil) allow us to conclude that the state of the examined ecosystem is close to the natural condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]