@article {2669,
	title = {The southern Gulf of Mexico: A baseline radiocarbon isoscape of surface sediments and isotopic excursions at depth},
	journal = {PLOS ONE},
	volume = {15},
	year = {2020},
	month = {Mar-04-2021},
	pages = {e0231678},
	abstract = {The southern Gulf of Mexico (sGoM) is home to an extensive oil recovery and development infrastructure. In addition, the basin harbors sites of submarine hydrocarbon seepage and receives terrestrial inputs from bordering rivers. We used stable carbon, nitrogen, and radiocarbon analyses of bulk sediment organic matter to define the current baseline isoscapes of surface sediments in the sGoM and determined which factors might influence them. These baseline surface isoscapes will be useful for accessing future environmental impacts. We also examined the region for influence of hydrocarbon deposition in the sedimentary record that might be associated with hydrocarbon recovery, spillage and seepage, as was found in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM) following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in 2010. In 1979, the sGoM experienced a major oil spill, Ixtoc 1. Surface sediment δ13C values ranged from -22.4{\textperthousand} to -19.9{\textperthousand}, while Δ14C values ranged from -337.1{\textperthousand} to -69.2{\textperthousand}.
Sediment δ15N values ranged from 2.8{\textperthousand} to 7.2{\textperthousand}, while the \%C on a carbonate-free basis ranged in value of 0.65\% to 3.89\% and \%N ranged in value of 0.09\% to 0.49\%. Spatial trends for δ13C and Δ14C were driven by water depth and distance from the coastline, while spatial trends for δ15N were driven by location (latitude and longitude). Location and distance from the coastline were significantly correlated with \%C and \%N. At depth in two of twenty (10\%) core profiles, we found negative δ13C and Δ14C excursions from baseline values in bulk sedimentary organic material, consistent with either oil-residue deposition or terrestrial inputs, but likely the latter. We then used 210Pb dating on those two profiles to determine the time in which the excursion-containing horizons were deposited. Despite the large spill in 1979, no evidence of hydrocarbon residue remained in the sediments from this specific time period.},
	keywords = {Gulf of Mexico, hydrocarbons, Oil spills, Oils, Petroleum, Sediment},
	doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.023167810.1371},
	url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32294128},
	author = {Bosman, Samantha H. and Schwing, Patrick T. and Larson, Rebekka A. and Wildermann, Natalie E. and Brooks, Gregg R. and Romero, Isabel C. and Sanchez-Cabeza, Joan-Albert and Ruiz-Fern{\'a}ndez, Ana Carolina and Machain-Castillo, Maria Luisa and Gracia, Adolfo and Escobar-Briones, Elva and Murawski, Steven A. and Hollander, David J. and Chanton, Jeffrey P.},
	editor = {Potter-McIntyre, Sally}
}
@book {2724,
	title = {Using Stable and Radiocarbon Analyses as a Forensic Tool to Find Evidence of Oil in the Particulates of the Water Column and on the Seafloor Following the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill},
	year = {2018},
	pages = {639 - 650},
	publisher = {Elsevier},
	organization = {Elsevier},
	abstract = {Over 600 million liters of oil and copious amounts of methane were released into the Gulf of Mexico between April 20, 2010 and July 15, 2010. We used stable and radiocarbon analyses as a forensic tool to trace these hydrocarbons from the Deepwater Horizon (DwH) well into suspended particulate organic carbon (POCsusp), sinking particulate organic carbon (POCsink), and sedimentary organic carbon on the seafloor. POCsusp samples were considerably depleted both in δ13C and Δ14C relative to surface production, with δ13C and Δ14C values as low as -37.2{\textperthousand} and -618{\textperthousand}, respectively. POCsink time series data revealed a modern Δ14C value due to a large diatom bloom in early September 2010, but values became depleted as oil contaminated particles continued to descend in the water column until the end of the year. Sediment cores collected in the vicinity of the DwH wellhead revealed evidence of oil contamination in the surface layer (0{\textendash}1 cm), as indicated by a depletion in Δ14C values compared to the layers below the surface. In addition to providing evidence of oil contamination using stable and radiocarbon analyses, our study was consistent with the existence of a pathway by which spilled oil was deposited onto the seafloor.},
	keywords = {Deepwater Horizon, isotopes, methane, Petrocarbon, POCsin, POCsusp, Sediment},
	isbn = {9780128044346},
	doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-804434-6.00029-X},
	url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/B978012804434600029X},
	author = {Bosman, Samantha H. and Chanton, Jeffrey P. and Rogers, Kelsey L.}
}
