Arctic shoreline oil combating experiments in 1996 in Murmansk

An extensive study to evaluate the improvement of oil bioremediation in Arctic and Sub-Arctic conditions was launched by VTT Manufacturing Technology in 1995 in cooperation with several partner institutions. The two-years long research programme consisted of both laboratory and full-scale test phases. Laboratory tests were performed by VTT in cooperation with the Swedish Environmental Research Institute and Rogaland Research of Norway. The field tests were arranged together with Murmansk Marine Biological Institute of Russia. The objective of the research work was to develop reliable analysing methods and evaluation principles for the bioremediation of oil spills in aquatic environment, especially in the shoreline conditions with tidal water variation. Two main categories of the research programme were the natural bioremediation of oil and the improvement of oil bioremediation by using biosorbent technology or added fertilizers. This paper describes the field tests conducted in Arctic conditions in Murmansk, Russia. Several test areas were prepared on the shore-line. Oil, water and sand samples were taken and analyzed in order to study the oil bioremediation in real conditions, the impacts of oil on the environment and the ecotoxicological effects. The results were also used for verification of laboratory results achieved in micro-scale cylinders and wave tank conditions. The main task of this study is to evaluate the natural oil bioremediation potential and the various ways to improve the natural bioremediation, e.g. by using fertilizers or biosorbents.