PARENT SESSION
PM27 - PAHs
Monday, 18 November 2002
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall

(P469) Oil Spill at 4,000 Meters: Assessing Impacts of a Spill in the Bolivian Highlands.

Pillard, David^*,1, DuFresne, Doree¹, ¹ ENSR International, Ft. Collins, CO, USA

ABSTRACT- Early in 2000, a pipeline carrying reconstituted crude oil developed a leak in the Rio Desaguadero in Bolivia. The river was in flood stage at the time and several thousand barrels of oil leaked into the river before flow was stopped. To assess the environmental impacts of the spill, the Bolivian government requested that an environmental audit be conducted. Water, sediment, soil, and tissue samples were collected at several sites along the length of the Rio Desaguadero. Toxicity tests were conducted with Ceriodaphnia dubia and Hyalella azteca. No evidence of residual PAHs were found in the water, although toxicity to C. dubia was observed, probably as a result of high TDS levels. Residual oil was detected in several sediment samples and was highly correlated with toxicity to H. azteca. However, the remaining oil residue consisted of hydrophobic, heavier PAHs found in isolated areas. It is likely that relatively low concentrations of PAHs would be re-dissolved or suspended during flooding and thus potential future environmental impacts would likely be minimal.

Key words: oil, pipeline, Andes Mountains, Bolivia