Bioavailable and leachable petroleum hydrocarbons of different Louisiana marsh soils

Characterize the fate of hydrocarbons, associated heavy metals, and dispersants in oil-contaminated saline and freshwater marshes with emphasis on petroleum hydrocarbons based on both chemical and microbiological approaches. Specific objectives are: 1) Characterize the bioavailable fractions of hydrocarbons and associated heavy metals in marsh soils, 2) Determine environmental constraints governing microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon and associated community functional response in wetland soils, and 3) Develop bioremediation strategies for enhancing the degradation of hydrocarbons. Both fresh and weathered crude oil samples were used in this project. The fresh crude oil sample (MC252) was obtained from BP whereas the weathered crude oil was obtained from the shore of a contaminated site on the Barrier Island.