Oil spill surface washing agents and chemical herders drive microbial community structure impacting biodegradation

Spill treating agents offer oil spill responders alternative measures to reduce the overall impact of oil in the environment. Although the environmental implications of chemical dispersant use have been exhaustively studied under various conditions, this study aims to close knowledge gaps regarding lesser-known spill treating agents that may inhibit oil biodegradation. Results of this study demonstrated an impact on hydrocarbon degradation, highlighting significant differences in microbial community structure among the treatments. However, these agents were also readily biodegraded, potentially yielding limited influence on oil biodegradation in the environment. These findings broaden current understanding of how oil-degrading microbial communities may be affected by the use of spill treating agents, beyond chemical dispersants, ultimately aiding personnel tasked with operational decision-making during the critical stages of an oil spill response.