Analyzing Phytoremediation as an Oil Spill Contamination Response Within Coastal Wetlands

Ella CarsonFollow

School Name

Chapin High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Environmental Science

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Oil spills pose a significant risk to biodiversity within various marine environments as petroleum molecules are high in toxicity and therefore poisonous towards organisms that ingest them. As estimated by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Deep Horizon Catastrophe likely "harmed or killed about 82,000 birds of 102 species; about 6,165 sea turtles; as many as 25,900 marine mammals"(Center for Biological Diversity, 2011). Traditionally, the response to oil spills is the utilization of chemical dispersants. However, these dispersants have been proven to pose long-term environmental harm to the ecosystems in which they are spread. Because of this harmful dispersion of chemical agents, the search for a sustainable response to oil spills is as imperative as ever. Because Phytoremediation methods are known to combat against toxicity, this environmentally friendly treatment option displays promise in mediating the negative effects of oil spills. The goal of this experiment is to test the extent to which phytoremediation, the use of plants to remediate contaminated environments, is effective in cleaning coastal wetlands contaminated by oil. In order to do this, three different hydrophytes that displayed promising characteristics for phytoremediation were tested in an oil-water solution along with a control group with no remedial agent. After 9 days, the amount of oil left in each solution was tested and compared to determine whether there is statistical significance between the control group and experimental groups.

Location

RITA 152

Start Date

3-23-2024 9:45 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 23rd, 9:45 AM

Analyzing Phytoremediation as an Oil Spill Contamination Response Within Coastal Wetlands

RITA 152

Oil spills pose a significant risk to biodiversity within various marine environments as petroleum molecules are high in toxicity and therefore poisonous towards organisms that ingest them. As estimated by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Deep Horizon Catastrophe likely "harmed or killed about 82,000 birds of 102 species; about 6,165 sea turtles; as many as 25,900 marine mammals"(Center for Biological Diversity, 2011). Traditionally, the response to oil spills is the utilization of chemical dispersants. However, these dispersants have been proven to pose long-term environmental harm to the ecosystems in which they are spread. Because of this harmful dispersion of chemical agents, the search for a sustainable response to oil spills is as imperative as ever. Because Phytoremediation methods are known to combat against toxicity, this environmentally friendly treatment option displays promise in mediating the negative effects of oil spills. The goal of this experiment is to test the extent to which phytoremediation, the use of plants to remediate contaminated environments, is effective in cleaning coastal wetlands contaminated by oil. In order to do this, three different hydrophytes that displayed promising characteristics for phytoremediation were tested in an oil-water solution along with a control group with no remedial agent. After 9 days, the amount of oil left in each solution was tested and compared to determine whether there is statistical significance between the control group and experimental groups.