introduction Organic compounds made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms are known as hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are obtained from fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gases which serve as the primary source of energy for generating heat, electricity and fuel for transportation. Hydrocarbons are considered as the mother of thousands of organic compounds The refining of crude oil yields hundreds of hydrocarbons. Methane is the most basic hydrocarbon. It is the main constituent of natural gas and is commonly found in marshy areas. Hexane, Heptane's and Octane are derived from petroleum and employed as automotive fuel. Paraffin wax obtained from petroleum has various uses, including as a component in candles, polishes, lubricants and cosmetics. Ethyne is used for welding purposes, Ethene is used for ripening fruits. Cycloalkanes have versatile uses, serving as solvents, lubricants and even fuel sources. In water they are found as free floating, emulsified, dissolved or adsorbed to suspended solids HYDROCARBON POLLUTION in aquatic ecosystem is caused by two major groups. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (CHCLs) - Pesicides, Insecticides and PCB's. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocrabons (PAHs) – By products of incomplete combustion of organic materials - (eg Crude oil, Petroleum products) - cause oil pollution Sources of chclS Production of PVC Production of Chlormethanes - eg: Dichloromethane (used as solvent for immiscible substances and degreasing), Chloroform (Refrigerant, reagent, anaesthetic agent) Pesicides - DDT type compounds and Chlorinated alicyclics Insulators - Polychlorinated biphenyls - PCB's (now phased out because of its high bioaccumulation factor). Industrial processes: Production of solvents, pesticides, and other chemicals. Solvents: Cleaning agents, degreasers, and paint thinners. Waste disposal: Improper disposal of industrial waste. Contaminated sites: Soil and water pollution from industrial activities. Laboratory use: Chlorinated hydrocarbons are used in some laboratory procedures. Properties of CHCls Hydrophobic (show low solubility in water), but lipophilic (readily soluble in fat). They often accumulate in the fatty (adipose) tissue of an organism. They have two important characteristics: They are chemically stable and remain active in the environment for many years. When the fat reserves gets metabolised releasing the pesticide in blood of organism will take place leading to mortality A Few Key CHCLs that Contribute to Pollution  Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) Drins - Aldrin, Diedrine, Endrin, Heptachlor & Endosulfan - Pestcontrol Lindane - Scabicide (to kill lice and mites) Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) - as heat transfer agents, lubricants, insulating agents, cooling agents, and flame retardants (prevent fires) e.g., Dioxins and Furans - Persisitant organic pollutants (POPs) which are generated from a variety of combustion, incineration of chemical processes environmental impacts Impacts

1. HYDROCARBONS POLLUTION
ASHWATH KESARI
RESEARCH SCHOLAR
DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
GULBARGA UNIVERSITY

2. INTRODUCTION
• Organic compounds made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms are known as hydrocarbons.
• Hydrocarbons are obtained from fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gases which serve as the
primary source of energy for generating heat, electricity and fuel for transportation.
• Hydrocarbons are considered as the mother of thousands of organic compounds
• The refining of crude oil yields hundreds of hydrocarbons. Methane is the most basic hydrocarbon. It is the
main constituent of natural gas and is commonly found in marshy areas.
• Hexane, Heptane's and Octane are derived from petroleum and employed as automotive fuel. Paraffin wax
obtained from petroleum has various uses, including as a component in candles, polishes, lubricants and
cosmetics.
• Ethyne is used for welding purposes, Ethene is used for ripening fruits.
• Cycloalkanes have versatile uses, serving as solvents, lubricants and even fuel sources.
• In water they are found as free floating, emulsified, dissolved or adsorbed to suspended solids

3. HYDROCARBON POLLUTION in aquatic ecosystem is caused by two major groups.
• Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (CHCLs) - Pesicides, Insecticides and PCB's.
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocrabons (PAHs) – By products of incomplete combustion of
organic materials - (eg Crude oil, Petroleum products) - cause oil pollution

4. CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS
• CHCLs are the hydrocarbons wherein one or more hydrogen atoms are substituted by
Chlorine atoms

5. SOURCES OF CHCLS
• Production of PVC
• Production of Chlormethanes - eg: Dichloromethane (used as solvent for
immiscible substances and degreasing), Chloroform (Refrigerant, reagent,
anaesthetic agent)
• Pesicides - DDT type compounds and Chlorinated alicyclics
• Insulators - Polychlorinated biphenyls - PCB's (now phased out because of its high
bioaccumulation factor).
• Industrial processes: Production of solvents, pesticides, and other chemicals.
• Solvents: Cleaning agents, degreasers, and paint thinners.
• Waste disposal: Improper disposal of industrial waste.
• Contaminated sites: Soil and water pollution from industrial activities.
• Laboratory use: Chlorinated hydrocarbons are used in some laboratory procedures.

6. PROPERTIES OF CHCLS
• Hydrophobic (show low solubility in water), but lipophilic (readily soluble in fat).
• They often accumulate in the fatty (adipose) tissue of an organism.
They have two important characteristics:
• They are chemically stable and remain active in the environment for many years.
• When the fat reserves gets metabolised releasing the pesticide in blood of organism
will take place leading to mortality

7. A FEW KEY CHCLS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
POLLUTION
• Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT)
• Drins - Aldrin, Diedrine, Endrin, Heptachlor & Endosulfan - Pestcontrol
• Lindane - Scabicide (to kill lice and mites)
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) - as heat transfer agents, lubricants, insulating agents,
cooling agents, and flame retardants (prevent fires)
• e.g., Dioxins and Furans - Persisitant organic pollutants (POPs) which are generated from a
variety of combustion, incineration of chemical processes

8. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Impacts
• Persistence: Many chlorinated hydrocarbons persist in the environment, leading to long-term contamination.
• Bioaccumulation: These chemicals accumulate in organisms and bio magnify in food chains.
• Toxicity: Chlorinated hydrocarbons are toxic to humans, wildlife, and aquatic organisms.
• Environmental contamination: Soil, water, and air pollution can occur through industrial releases, spills, or improper disposal.
Effects on Ecosystems
• Wildlife impacts: Chlorinated hydrocarbons can affect reproduction, development, and survival of wildlife.
• Aquatic ecosystem disruption: These chemicals can accumulate in aquatic organisms and affect entire ecosystems.
• Soil contamination: Chlorinated hydrocarbons can persist in soil, affecting plant growth and ecosystem health.
Human Health Concerns
• Cancer risks: Some chlorinated hydrocarbons are known or suspected carcinogens.
• Neurological effects: Exposure can cause neurological damage and other health problems.
• Reproductive and developmental effects: Some chlorinated hydrocarbons can affect reproductive and developmental health.
• Hormonal Disruption: Can interfere with endocrine functions affecting reproduction and development.
• Respiratory Issues: Can cause chronic asthma or bronchitis due to inhalation.
• Skin Irritation: Exposure may lead to rashes or dermatitis from direct contact.

9. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON ECOSYSTEMS
• Wildlife impacts: Chlorinated hydrocarbons can affect reproduction, development,
and survival of wildlife.
• Aquatic ecosystem disruption: These chemicals can accumulate in aquatic organisms
and affect entire ecosystems.
• Soil contamination: Chlorinated hydrocarbons can persist in soil, affecting plant
growth and ecosystem health.

10. HUMAN HEALTH CONCERNS
• Cancer risks: Some chlorinated hydrocarbons are known or suspected carcinogens.
• Neurological Effects: Exposure can cause neurological damage and other health
problems.
• Reproductive and Developmental Effects: Some chlorinated hydrocarbons can
affect reproductive and developmental health.
• Hormonal Disruption: Can interfere with endocrine functions affecting
reproduction and development.
• Respiratory Issues: Can cause chronic asthma or bronchitis due to inhalation.
• Skin Irritation: Exposure may lead to rashes or dermatitis from direct contact.

11. POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCRABONS (PAHS)
• Organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen that are composed of multiple aromatic rings
• Produced during the incomplete burning of fuels, garbage or other organic substances
• Some are manufactured for research or are used in medicines, dyes, plastics and pesticides
• They are mostly colorless, white, or pale yellow solids.
• They are a
Ubiquitous group of several hundred chemically related compounds
Environmentally persistent
With various structures and varied toxicity
• Chemically the PAHs are comprised of two or more benzene rings bonded in linear, cluster, or angular arrangements
• e.g., naphthalene, having two aromatic rings, anthracene and Phenanthrene having three aromatic rings .

12. SOURCES OF PAHS
• Based on the origin, sources can be classified into 3 types
1. Pyrogenic : They are formed whenever organic substances are exposed to high temperatures under low oxygen or no oxygen conditions
e.g., Distructive distillation of coal
2. Petrogenic : PAHs formed during crude oil maturation and similar processes.
3. Biogenic : PAHs that are produced biologically e.g., synthesized by certain plants and bacteria or formed during the degradation of
vegetative matter
Natural sources :
• Open burning - Forest fires
• Natural losses or seepage of petroleum or coal deposits
• Volcanic activities
Anthropogenic sources :
 Residential heating
 Coal gasification liquefying plants
 Carbon black
 Coal-tar pitch and asphalt production
 Coke and aluminium production
 Catalytic cracking towers
 Petroleum refineries
 Motor vehicle exhaust

14. PAHS IN ATMOSPHERE
• The compounds having higher molecular weight and lower vapor pressure are
present as Particulate at solid form
e.g., Benzopyrene
• The compounds having lower molecular weight and higher vapor pressure are
present in Vapor phase or gaseous form
e.g., Naphthalene
PAHs
Particulate /
Solid
Vapor /
Gaseous

15. PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS - OIL
POLLUTION
• An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum
hydrocarbon into the environment, especially
the marine ecosystem, due to human activity.
• These petroleum hydrocarbons have a pivotal
role in causing oil pollution
• The majority of them occur as crude oil - the
major energy source of today’s world.

16. CRUDE OIL
• Crude oil is the mother component of all petroleum hydrocarbons.
It is a complex mixture hydrocarbons with 4-26 or more carbon atoms in the molecule.
It is extracted usually from the upper strata of the earth
• Crude oil is the key component in causing oil pollution since it has the following properties
Lighter than water
Immiscible with water
Highly flammable
Spreads on water forming slicks
Generally liquid at room temperature.

17. INPUT
S
Natural
seeps
Transportation of petroleum
• Pipeline spills
• Spills (tank vessels)
• Operational discharges
(cargo oil)
• Coastal facility spills
Consumption of petroleum
• Land- based (river and
run off)
• Recreational vessel
discharge
• Spills (commercial
vessels)
• Operational discharges
• Aircraft dumping
Extraction of petroleum
• Platforms
• Atmospheric
deposition
• Produced water
INPUTS OF OIL TO THE SEA

18. BACKGROUND OF OIL POLLUTION
• The modern civilization demands for high energy source needs
High exploration
Production
Maintenance
Transportation of these fuels
• Increase in industrialization and development has seen an increased used of fuel like petroleum and its
products, diesel, natural gas.
• Which unwantedly increases the chances of accidental release to the environment causing the ecological
impacts.
• Environmental contamination by petroleum hydrocarbon is one of the significant concerns of recent world.
• It has disastrous and catastrophic consequences, not only on the human beings but also on other biotic
components of the ecosystem
• That is, pollution due to hydrocarbons have toxic, fatal and disastrous effect on the aquatic, terrestrial as
well as on the atmosphere.
• Every year about 35 million barrels of oil are ferried across the oceans, making the aquatic environment
vulnerable to pollution

19. In India Oil spill incident occurred in Mumbai 2010, which left vast areas of the Arabian
sea polluted with leaked oil and toxic waste of about 300 cargo containers were dumped in
the sea from the ship due to collision of 2 ships (MSC chitra & MV khalija)

20. FATE OF OIL POLLUTION
• Spilled oil on the sea spreads throughout to form the thin film called “Oil slick”
• The rate of spreading and the thickness of film depends on
Sea temperature
Nature of oil
Wind and wave action
Water currents
Coastal configuration
• This will undergo compositional and chemical changes
Light fraction evaporates
Soluble components dissolve in the water column
Immiscible components become emulsified and dispersed as droplets

21. • Sometimes as a consequence of photo-oxidation water in oil emulsion is produced
• This contains 70-80 % of water and forms the viscid mass known as “Chocolate
mousse”
• It forms thick pancakes on the water or sticky masses if it comes a shore

22. EFFECTS ON ORGANISMS
• Oils have smothering effects (suffocation) on most of the aquatic organisms.
Birds
• Sticky feathers - Make them heavy.
• Thermal insulation and buoyancy.
• Efficiency of catching food.
Animals
• Penetrates the fur of sea mammals.
• Small animals can be caught in oil envelops and die.
• Sedimentary animals - unable to move.
• Increase sea temperature.

23. OIL
POLLUTION
CONTROL
Physical Methods
Chemical Methods
Biological
Methods

24. PHYSICAL METHODS
Skimming
Absorption by chopped straw and saw dust
Chemicals to coagulate oil
Power of higher density → Oil can be sunk at the bottom
Chalk treated with stearate and 10% sand in slurry removes oil considerably

25. CHEMICAL METHODS
Dispersion
Evaporation
Emulsification
Absorbents
Burning of oil slicks
Floating blooms
Improved navigation aids

26. BIOLOGICAL METHODS
Use of microorganisms
Various varieties of Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Marinobacte, etc