@article {2723,
	title = {Isotopic composition of sinking particles: Oil effects, recovery andbaselines in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010{\textendash}2015},
	journal = {Elem Sci Anth},
	volume = {6},
	year = {2018},
	month = {Sep-01-2018},
	pages = {43},
	abstract = {The extensive release of oil during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico perturbed the pelagic ecosystem and associated sinking material. To gauge the recovery and post-spill baseline sources, we measured Δ14C, δ13C and δ34S of sinking particles near the spill site and at a reference site and natural seep site. Particulates were collected August 2010{\textendash}April 2016 in sediment traps moored at sites with depths of 1160{\textendash}1660 m. Near the spill site, changes in Δ14C indicated a 3-year recovery period, while δ34S indicated 1{\textendash}2 years, which agreed with estimates of 1{\textendash}2 years based on hydrocarbon composition. Under post-spill baseline conditions, carbon inputs to sinking particulates in the northern Gulf were dominated by surface marine production (80{\textendash}85\%) and riverine inputs (15{\textendash}20\%). Near the spill site, Δ14C values were depleted in October 2010 ({\textendash}140 to {\textendash}80{\textperthousand}), increasing systematically by 0.07 {\textpm} 0.02{\textperthousand} day{\textendash}1 until July 2013 when values reached {\textendash}3.2 {\textpm} 31.0{\textperthousand}. This Δ14C baseline was similar to particulates at the reference site (3.8 {\textpm} 31.1{\textperthousand}). At both sites, δ13C values stayed constant throughout the study period ({\textendash}21.9 {\textpm} 0.5{\textperthousand} and {\textendash}21.9 {\textpm} 0.9{\textperthousand}, respectively). δ34S near the spill site was depleted (7.4 {\textpm} 3.1{\textperthousand}) during October 2010{\textendash}September 2011, but enriched (16.9 {\textpm} 2.0{\textperthousand}) and similar to the reference site (16.2 {\textpm} 3.1{\textperthousand}) during November 2012{\textendash}April 2015. At the seep site, Δ14C values were {\textendash}21.7 {\textpm} 45.7{\textperthousand} except during August 2012{\textendash}January 2013 when a significant Δ14C depletion of {\textendash}109.0 {\textpm} 29.1{\textperthousand} was observed. We interpret this depletion period, also observed in δ13C data, as caused by the incorporation of naturally seeped oil into sinking particles. Determination of post-spill baselines for these isotopic signatures allows for evaluation of anthropogenic inputs in future.},
	keywords = {Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico, isotopes, radiocarbon, sediment trap, sinking particulates},
	doi = {10.1525/elementa.298},
	url = {https://www.elementascience.org/article/10.1525/elementa.298},
	author = {Chanton, Jeffrey P. and Giering, Sarah L. C. and Bosman, Samantha H. and Rogers, Kelsey L. and Sweet, Julia and Asper, Vernon L. and Diercks, Arne R. and Passow, Uta}
}
@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.}
}
