Environmental Molecular Diagnostics as Evidence of Natural Attenuation of a Crude Oil Impact in a Tropical Rainforest

摘要

Background/Objectives. An oil battery (Site) located in the Amazon rainforest experienced releases of crude oil that resulted in a large impacted area of approximately 11 hectares. Aerial photographs from 1996 provided insight to the extent of the overall impact. Quickbird images from 2008 indicated a reduced impact and significant natural recovery of both indigenous and non-indigenous flora (cattails). A case was made to the national environmental agency for limited aggressive remediation followed by natural attenuation and recovery. To make that case, the use of environmental molecular diagnostics (EMDs) on five sediment samples collected at the Site was conducted to determine microbial populations, enzymatic activity and the potential for natural attenuation of the crude oil.