BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Bob Swarthout, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences and Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, is the co-author of a new study analyzing the composition of oil still seeping from the wreck of the USS Arizona more than 80 years after its sinking at Pearl Harbor.
The study, titled "The Black Tears of USS Arizona: Forensic Assessment of Residual Oil from the Pearl Harbor Shipwreck," is published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.
For the study, Dr. Swarthout and his collaborators conducted a chemical forensic analysis of oil samples collected from multiple leak points on the USS Arizona wreck in Pearl Harbor, HI. The findings revealed that the oil remains chemically complex, but its chemical composition varies across leak points due to differing degrees of weathering. Notably, the oil retains high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), compounds known for their persistence and potential toxicity.
The study highlights the importance of considering chemical variability when assessing environmental risks and planning potential remediation. The wreck—a "living laboratory"—provides critical insights into the long-term behavior of submerged oil, informing historical understanding and modern spill response strategies.
To read more about the study, see the press release published by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
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About the A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences
The A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry, a Bachelor of Science in chemistry with eight different concentrations and an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in fermentation sciences. The department’s programs prepare students to attend graduate and professional schools, as well as for employment in the pharmaceutical and fermentation industries and other business sectors. Learn more at dcfs.appstate.edu.
About the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
Located in Western North Carolina, Appalachian State University provides the perfect setting to study geological and environmental sciences. The Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences provides students with a solid foundation on which to prepare for graduate school or build successful careers as scientists, consultants and secondary education teachers. The department offers six degree options in geology and two degree options in environmental science. Learn more at earth.appstate.edu.
Dr. Bob Swarthout is an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences and Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences.
Dr. Bob Swarthout is an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences and Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences.