Marine oil toxicity and tidal weathering: Can the humble cockle survive?

The composition of crude oil varies depending on its location and source. The toxicity of crude oil also depends on its composition. The toxicity of weathered oil and its biodegradation may alter its toxicity, which may differ due to its composition. The complex mechanisms of the resulting toxicity of weathered oil are therefore not fully understood. This research will mechanistically characterise the various fractions of fresh and weathered crude oils and evaluate their effects on a model marine benthic organism, the cockle (Cerastoderma edule), in order to better understand the factors that drive the toxicity of oils of different compositions during weathering.