Categorization of nearshore sampling data using oil slick trajectory predictions

Oil Spill Chemicals (OSCs) represent a risk to the environment and human health, especially in nearshore environments used for recreational purposes. Importantly, the starting point for human health risk assessment is to define the concentration of OSCs at nearshore locations. The objective of this study was to evaluate nearshore sampling data of OSC concentrations in different environmental matrices within time-space specific categories. The categories correspond to OSC concentration values for samples collected prior to nearshore oiling, post nearshore oiling and at no time impacted by oil as predicted by historic oil spill trajectories generated by an Oil Spill Trajectory Model. In general, concentration values for the post category were higher than prior which were higher than unimpacted. Results show differences in PAH concentration patterns within each matrix and for each category. Concentration frequency distributions for most chemicals in each category were log-normally distributed. [Display omitted] •Toxic Oil Spill Chemicals (OSCs) represent a risk to human health.•OSC distributions were categorized in a spatial and temporal context.•Two spatial-temporal categories had statistically higher mean concentrations.•Results show differences in concentration patterns for each category.•Concentration frequency distributions for most OSCs were log-normally distributed.