Cinétique d'épuration in-situ de moules contaminés par un gas-oil

On November 17th 1975, the tanker "Port de Bouc" with 1 700 t. of fuel n° 2 on board run aground in Saint-Brieuc Bight and 470 t. of this product escaped. The mussel farming zones situated between 10 and 20 km from the oil spill place were rapidly polluted within a few days. The appraised mussels value was 2 millions US dollars. A regular survey of the situation was made and 52 samples were analysed. After 3 days, the maximum of contamination was measured in a sample (505 mg/kg of wet flesh against 16 mg/kg in a non polluted check sample) the maximum pollution for the whole bight was measured after 15 days (the average was 220 mg/kg). First, the release was fast during 1 month and characterized by the total elimination of n-paraffins. Nevertheless, the petroleum taste remained during more than 3 months. Five months were necessary for a complete removal. No mortality was observed and mussels had a normal growing rate during this period.