ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS ENCYCLOPEDIA

FUEL OIL NUMBER 2 - HEATING OIL ENTRY

July 1, 1997

COMPILERS/EDITORS:

ROY J. IRWIN, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

WITH ASSISTANCE FROM COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

STUDENT ASSISTANT CONTAMINANTS SPECIALISTS:

MARK VAN MOUWERIK

LYNETTE STEVENS

MARION DUBLER SEESE

WENDY BASHAM

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

WATER RESOURCES DIVISIONS, WATER OPERATIONS BRANCH

1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 250

FORT COLLINS, COLORADO 80525WARNING/ 

### DISCLAIMERS:

Where specific products, books, or laboratories are mentioned, no official U.S. government endorsement is implied.

Digital format users: No software was independently developed for this project. T echnical questions related to software should be directed to the manufacturer of whatever software is being used to read the files. Adobe Acrobat PDF files are supplied to allow use of this product with a wide variety of software and hardware (DOS, Windows, MAC, and UNIX).

This document was put together by human beings, mostly by
comp iling or summarizing what other human beings have writt en. Therefore, it most likely contains some mistakes and/or potential misinterpretations and should be used primarily as a way to search quickly for basic inform ation and information sources. It should not be viewed as an exhaustive, "last -word" source for critical applications (such as those re quiring legally defensible information). For critical applications (such as litigation applications), it is best to use this document to find sources, and then to obtain the original documents and/or talk to the authors before depending too heavily on a particular piece of information.

Like a library or most large databases (such as EPA's national STORET water quality database), this document contains information of variable quality from very diverse sources. In compiling this document, mistakes were found in peer reviewed jo urnal articles, as well as in databases with relatively elaborate quality control mechanisms [366,649,940]. A few of these were caught and marked with a "[sic]" notation, but undoubtedly others slipped through. The [ sic] notation was inserted by the editors to indicate information or spelling that seemed wrong or misleading, but which was nevertheless cited verbatim rather than arb itrarily changing what the author said.

Most likely additional transcription errors and typos have b een added in some of our efforts. Furthermore, with such complex subject matter, it is not always easy to determine what is correct and what is incorrect, especially with the "experts" often disagreeing. It is
not uncommon in scientific research for two different researchers to come up with di fferent results which lead them to different conclusions. In compiling the Ency clopedia, the editors did not try to resolve such conflicts, but rather simply reported it all.It should be kept in mind that data comparability is a major problem in environmental toxicology since laboratory and field methods are constantly changing and since there are so many different "standard methods" published by EPA, other federal agencies, state agencies, and various private groups. What some laboratory and field investigators actually do for standard operating pract ice is often a unique combination of various standard protocols and impromptu "improvements." In fact, the interagency task force on water methods concluded that [1014]:

It is the exception rather than the rule that water-quality monitoring data from different
programs or time periods can be compared on a scientifically sound basis, and that...

No nationally accepted standard definitions exist for water quality parameters. The different organizations may collect data using identical or standard methods, but identify them by different names, or use the same names for data collected by different methods [1014].

Differ ences in field and laboratory methods are also major issues related to (lack of) data comparability from media other than water: soil, sediments, tissues, and air.

In spite of numerous problems and complexities, knowledge is often power in decisions related to chemical contamination. It is therefore often helpful to be aware of a broad universe of conflicting results or conflicting expert opinions rather than having a portion of this information arbitrarily censored by someone else. Frequently one wants to know of the existence of information, even if one later decides not to use it for a particular application. Many would like to see a high percentage of the information available and decide for themselves what to throw out, partly because they don't want to seem uniformed or be caught by surprise by potentially important informat ion. They are in a better position if they can say: "I knew about that data, assessed it based on the following quality assurance criteria, and decided not to use it for this application." This is especially true for users near the end of long decision processes, such as hazardous site cleanups, lengthy ecological risk assessments, or complex natural resource damage assessments.

For some categories, the editors found no information and inserted the phrase "no information found." This does not necessarily mean that no information exists; itsimply means that during our efforts, the editors found

none. For many topics, there is probably information "out there" that is not in the Encyclopedia. The more time that passes without encyclopedia updates (none are planned at the moment), the more true this statement will become. Still, the Encyclopedia is unique in that it contains broad ecotoxicology information from more sources than many other refere nce documents. No updates of this document are currently planned. However, it is hoped that most of the information in the encyclopedia will be useful for some time to come even with out updates, just as one can still find information in the 1972 EPA Blue Book [12] that does not seem well summarized anywhere else.

Alth ough the editors of this document have done their best in the limited time avail able to insure accuracy of quotes or summaries as being "what the original author said," the proposed interagency funding of a bigger project with more elaborate peer review and quality control steps never materialized.

The bo ttom line: The editors hope users find this document useful, but don't expect or depend on perfection herein. Neither the U.S. Government nor the National Park Service make any claims that this document is free of mistakes.

The following is one chemical topic entry (one file among 118). Before utilizing this entry, the reader is strongly encouraged to read the README file (in this subdirectory) for an introduct ion, an explanation of how to use this document in general, an explanation of how to search for power key section headings, an explanation of the organization of each entry, an information quality discussion, a discussion of copyright issues, and a listing of other entries (other topics) covered.

See the separate file entitled REFERENC for the identity of numbered references in brackets.

HOW TO CITE THIS DOCUMENT: As mentioned above, for critical applications it is better to obtain and cite the original publication after first verifying various data quality assurance concerns. For more routine applications, this document may be cited as:

Irwin, R.J., M. VanMouwerik, L. Stevens, M.D. Seese , and W. Basham. 1997. Environmental Contaminants Encyclopedia. National Park Service, Water Resources Division, Fort Collins, Colorado. Distributed within the Federal Government as an Electronic Document (Projected public availability on the internet or NTIS: 1998).Fuel Oil Number 2 - Heating Oil

Br ief 

### Introduction:

Br.Class: General Introduction and 

### Classification Information:

NOTE:

In digital format versions of this document, this file name (FUELOIL2.HEA), the "hea" stands for heating oil. See also separate entry (file) FUEL OIL2.GEN for summary on Fuel Oil number 2 in general (not just heating oil).

Diesel fuels, and typical home heating oil and high aromatic content home heating oil, are forms of no. 2 fuel oil [498,560]. Specifications for both middle distillate heating fuels and transportation fuels are similar [747]. The final products may be treated as required for their particular use, but they are otherwise virtually indistinguishable on the basis of their gross physical or chemical
proper ties [747]. Diesel oil 2 is similar in chemi cal composition to Fuel oil 2, with the exception of additives [962]. Several references do not explicitly state which form of Number 2 oil they were testing. To alleviate some of the confusion, information that specifically listed "heating oil" is presented in this entry. The reader is encouraged to read the following related entries: Fuel Oil Number 2; Diesel Oil, General; Diesel Oil #1; Diesel Oil #2; and Diesel Oil #4.

Along with diesel oil, typical heating fuel oil is a type of no. 2 fuel oil. Fuel oils are comprised of mixtures of petroleum distillate hydrocarbons [363,499]. The vari ous kinds of fuel oils are obtained by distilling crude oil, and removing the different fractions.

In terms of refining crude oil, typical heating oil is a middle distillate. The middle distillates include kerosene, aviation fuels, diesel fuels, and fuel oil #1 and 2. These fuels contain paraffins (alkenes), cycloparaffins (cycloalkanes), aromatics, and olefins from approximately C9 to C20. Aromatic compounds of concern included alkylbenzenes, toluene, naphthalenes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Heating oil contains a higher percentage by volume of benzenes and naphthalenes relative to keros ene or diesel fuels. Most middle distillates contain some benzene, alkylbenzenes, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and cumenes, but in muchlower percentage than gasoline [661]. Fuel oil no. 2 spans the carbon number range from about C11 to C20 [747].

Fuel oil no. 2 products, consisting predominantly of atmospheric distillate streams, contain less than 5% three- to seven-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). If high proportions of heavy atmospheric, vacuum or light cracked distillates are present, the level may be as high as 10% [747].

Accord ing to the U.S. Coast Guard Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS), no. 2 fuel oil is one of the
most c ommonly spilled petroleum products in the U.S. [635]. Major U.S. spills involving no. 2 heating oil include: Bouchard #65 tanker incident off Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, 1977; Exxon Bayway Refinery pipeline incide nt, in the Arthur Kill waterway, New York, 1990; and the World Prodigy tanker i ncident off Newport, Rhode Island, 1989 [555].

Br.Haz : General 

### Hazard/ToxicitySummary:

Short-term hazards of the some of the lighter, more volatile and water soluble compounds (such as toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) in heating oil no. 2 include pote ntial acute toxicity to aquatic life in the water column (especially in relatively confined areas) as well as potential inhalation hazards. Heating oil no. 2 has moderate volatility and moderate solubility [777]. Heating oil no. 2 possesses moderate to high acute toxicity to biota with product -specific toxicity related to the type and concentration of aromatic compounds [777]. Heating oil no. 2 spills could result in potential
acute toxicity to some forms of aquatic life. Oil coating of birds, sea otters, or other aquatic life which come in direct contact with the spilled oil is another potential short-term hazard. In the short term, spilled oil will tend to float on the surface; water uses threatened by spills include: recreation; fisheries; industrial, potable supply; and irrigation [608].

Long-term potential hazards of some of the lighter, more volatile and water soluble compounds (such as toluene and xylenes) in heating oil no. 2 include contamination of groundwater. Long-term water uses threatened by spills include potable (ground) water supply. Chronic effects associ ated with middle distillates are mainly due to exposure to aromatic compounds [661].

Long-term effects are also associated with PAHs, alkyl PAHs, and alkyl benzene (such as xylene) constituents of heating oil no. 2. Although PAHs, particularly heavyPAHs, do not make up a large percentage of heating oil no. 2 by weight, there are some PAHs in heating oil no. 2, including naphthalene, alkyl naphthalenes, phenan threne, and alkyl phenanthrenes [747]. Due to their relative persistence and potential for various chronic effects, PAHs (particularly the alkyl PAHs) can contribute to long-term (chron ic) hazards of heating oil no. 2 products in contaminated soils, sediments, and groundwater. Chronic effects of some of the constituents in heating oil no. 2 (toluene, xylene, naphthalenes, alkyl benzenes, and various alkyl PAHs) include changes in the liver and harmful effects on the kidneys, heart, lungs, and nervous system. Increased rates of cancer, immunological, reproductive, fetotoxic, genotoxic effects have also been associated with some of the compounds found in heating oil no. 2 (see entries on individual compounds for more details).

Since Diesel oil 2 is similar in chemical composition to Fuel oil 2, with the exception of additives [962], studies on diesel toxicity are of some interest related to this product (see the Diesel Oil, General and Diesel Oil #2 entries).

Many of the PAHs found in this product (see Chem.Detail section below) are more toxic in sunlight or other UV source than elsewhere (see PAHs as a group entry).

See al so: ATSDR toxicological profile on fuels oils in general, including this product [962].

Br.Car : Brief Summary of Carcinogenicity/ 

### CancerInformation:

Distillate fuel oils are not classifiable as to the carcinogenicity to humans [747]. However, certain carcinogenic effects have been associated with some of the other compounds found in f uel oil no. 2 (see entries on individual compounds for more details).

There is limited evidence for the carcinogenicity in experimental animals of fuel oil no. 2 [747].

The debates on which PAHs, alkyl PAHs, and other

arom atics found in this product to classify as carcin ogens, and the details of exactly how to perform both ecological and human risk assessments on the complex mixtures of PAHs typically found at contaminated sites, are li kely to continue. There are some clearly wrong ways to go about it, but defining clearly right ways is more difficult. PAHs usually occur in complex mixtures rather than alone. Perhaps the most unambiguous thing that can be said about complex PAH mixtures is that such mixtures are often carcinogenic and possibly phototoxic.One way to approach site speci fic risk assessments would be to collect the complex mixture of PAHs and other lipophilic contaminants in a semipermeable membrane device (SPMD, also known as a fat bag) [894,895,896], retrieve the contaminant mixture from the SPMD, then test the mixture for carcinogenicity, toxicity, and phototoxicity (James Huckins, National Biological Service, and Roy Irwin, National Park Service, personal communication, 1996).

Painting either diesel fuel or closely related Fuel Oil 2 on mice was positive for carcinogenesis [875].

See al so: ATSDR toxicological profile on fuels oils in general, including this product [962]. See also: PAHs as a group entry.

Br.Dev : Brief Summary of Developmental, 

### Reproductive, Endocrine, and Genotoxicity Information:

The results are mixed, but some immunological, reproductive, fetotoxic, and g enotoxic effects have been associated with a few of the compounds found in heating oil no. 2 [764,765,766,767] (see entries on individual compounds for more details).

Some of the PAHs found in fuel oil are either AHH active or endocrine disruptors [561].

See al so: ATSDR toxicological profile on fuels oils in general, including this product [962].

See also: PAHs as a group entry.

Br. 

### Fate : Brief Summary of Key Bioconcentration, Fate, Transport, Persistence, Pathway, and Chemical/Physical Information:

Heating oil no. 2 is a middle distillate petroleum hydrocarbon product of intermediate volatility and mobility [661]. As an interme diate product, heating oil no. 2 has a combination of lighter, less persistent and more mobile compounds as well as some heavier, more persistent and less mobile compounds. These two different groups are associated with two distinctly different patterns of fate/pathway concerns:

The relatively lighter, more volatile, mobile, and
water soluble compounds in heating oil no. 2 will tend to evaporate fairly quickly into the atmosphere or migrate to groundwater. When exposed to oxygen and sunlight, most of these compounds will tend to break down relatively quickly.However, in groundwater, many of these compounds tend to be more persistent than in surface water, and readily partition on an equilibria basis back and f orth between water and solids (soil and sediment) media. Cleaning up groundwater without cleaning up soil contamination will usually result in a rebound of higher concentrations of these compounds partitioning from co ntaminated soils into groundwater (Roy Irwin, Personal Communication, 1995).

The compounds in heating oil no. 2 which will tend to be somewhat more persistent and more bound to solid particles will include the PAHs, alkyl PAHs, and alkyl benzenes. Higher concentrations of heavier PAHs will tend to be in adjacent contaminated soils than in groundwater, but cleaning up groundwater without cleaning up soil contamination will nevertheless usually result in at least some rebound of higher concentrations of these compounds partitioning from contaminated soils into groundwater (Roy Irwin, Personal Communication, 1995).

See al so: ATSDR toxicological profile on fuels oils in general, including this product [962].



### Syn onyms/ Substance Identification:

Home heating oil [560] Furnace fuel [683] No. 2 heating oil [555] Domestic fuel oil [747] Domestic heating oil [747] Furnace oil no. 2 [747] Heating oil [747] Gas Oil [962] Number 2 burner oil [962]



### As sociatedChemicals or Topics (Includes Transformation Products):

See also individual entries:

Diesel Oil, General Diesel Oil #1 Diesel Oil #2 Diesel Oil #4 Fuel Oil, General Fuel Oil Number 2 Petroleum, General Oil Spills PAHs as a group

### Wa ter DataInterpretation, Concentrations and Toxicity (All Water Data Subsections Start with "W."):

W.Low (Water Concentrations Considered Low):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

W.Hi gh (Water Concentrations Considered High):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

W.Typ ical (Water Concentrations Considered Typical):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

W.Con cern Levels, Water Quality Criteria, LC50 Values, Water Quality Standards, Screening Levels, Dose/Response Data, and Other Water Benchmarks:

W.General (General Water Quality Standards, Criteria, and Benchm arks Related to Protection of Aquatic Biota in General; Includes Water Concentrations Versus Mixed or General Aquatic Biota):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

W.Pl ants (Water Concentrations vs. Plants):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

W.Invertebrates (Water Concentrations vs. Invertebrates):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

W.Fi sh (Water Concentrations vs. Fish):Aquatic Toxicity (mg/L) [560]:

Genus/Species 24h TLm 96h Tlm

Juvenile American Shad (freshwater) 200 -- Rainbow Trout eggs (saltwater) -- 20

W.Wild life (Water Concentrations vs. Wildlife or Domestic Animals):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

W.Human (Drinking Water and Ot her Human Concern Levels):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

W.Misc. (Other Non-concentration Water Information):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.



### Sed iment DataInterpretation, Concentrations and Toxicity (All Sediment Data Subsections Start with "Sed."):

Sed.Low (Sediment Concentrations Considered Low):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Sed.Hi gh (Sediment Concentrations Considered High):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Sed.Typ ical (Sediment Concentrations Considered Typical):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individualcomponents of this mixture.

Sed.Con cern Levels, Sediment Quality Criteria, LC50 Values, Sediment Quality Standards, Screening Levels, Dose/Response Data and Other Sediment Benchmarks:

Sed.Gen eral (General Sediment Quality Standards, Criteria, and Benchmarks Related to Protection of Aquatic Biota in General; Includes Sediment Concentrations Versus Mixed or General Aquatic Biota):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Sed.Pl ants (Sediment Concentrations vs. Plants):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Sed.Invertebrates (Sediment Concentrations vs. Invertebrates):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Sed.Fi sh (Sediment Concentrations vs. Fish):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Sed.Wild life (Sediment Concentrations vs. Wildlife or Domestic Animals):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Sed.Human (Sediment Concentrations vs. Human):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Sed.Misc. (Other Non-concentration Sediment Information):No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.



### Soil DataInterpretation, Concentrations and Toxicity (All Soil Data Subsections Start with "Soil."):

Soil.Low (Soil Concentrations Considered Low):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Soil.Hi gh (Soil Concentrations Considered High):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Soil.Typ ical (Soil Concentrations Considered Typical):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Soil.Concern Levels, Soil Qual ity Criteria, LC50 Values, Soil Quality Standards, Screening Levels, Dose/Response Data and Other Soil Benchmarks:

Soil.Gen eral (General Soil Quality Standards, Criteria, and Benchmarks Related to Protection of Soil-dwelling Biota in General; Includes Soil Concentrations Versus Mixed or General Soil-dwelling Biota):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Soil.Pl ants (Soil Concentrations vs. Plants):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Soil.Inv ertebrates (Soil Concentrations vs. Invertebrates):No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Soil.Wild life (Soil Concentrations vs. Wildlife or Domestic Animals):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Soil.Human (Soil Concentrations vs. Human):

No information found on this complex and variable mixture. See Chem.Detail section for chemicals found in this product, then look up information on each hazardous compound. Some individual compounds found in petroleum products have low-concentration human health benchmarks for soil (see individual entries).

Soil.Misc. (Other Non-concentration Soil Information):

As of 1996, several States were considering allowing natural attenuation (the "do nothing and let nature clean up the mess through bioremediation" option) to proceed near leaking storage tanks in situations where drinking water was not being impacted and where human rather than environmental resources were the main resources in the immediate area (Roy Irwin, National Park Service, personal communication, 1996).

Others would point out that fuel oil spills into soils are not necessarily a trivial environmental threat related to ecotoxicology (emphasis on living things other than humans), due to the many hazardous compounds in this product (see Chem.Detail section below).

No other information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Tis sue and Food Concentrations (All 

### Tissue DataInterpretation Subsections Start with "Tis."):

Tis.Pl ants:

A) As Food: Concentrations or Doses of Concern to Living Things Which Eat Plants:No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

B) Body Burden Residues in Plants: Typical, Elevated, or of Concern Related to the Well-being of the Organism Itself:

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Tis.Invertebrates:

A) As Food: Concentrations or Doses of Concern to Living Things Which Eat Invertebrates:

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

B) Concentrations or Doses of Concern in Food Items Eaten by Invertebrates:

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

C) Body Burden Residues in Invertebrates: Typical, Elevated, or of Concern Related to the Well-being of the Organism Itself:

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Tis.Fish :

A) As Food: Concentrations or Doses of Concern to Living Things Which Eat Fish (Includes FDA Action Levels for Fish and Similar Benchmark Levels From Other Countries):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

B) Concentrations or Doses of Concern in Food Items Eaten by Fish:No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

C) Body Burden Residues in Fish: Typical, Elevated, or of Concern Related to the Well-being of the Organism Itself:

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Tis.Wild life: Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife, Domestic Animals and all Birds Whether Aquatic or not:

A) As Food: Concentrations or Doses of Concern to Living Things Which Eat Wildlife, Domestic Animals, or Birds:

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

B) Concentrations or Doses of Concern in Food Items Eaten by Wildlife, Birds, or Domestic Animals (Includes LD50 Values Which do not Fit W ell into Other Categories, Includes Oral Doses Administered in Laboratory Experiments):

In 1982, Beck et al. performed acute oral toxicity
tests on young adult Sprague-Dawley rats using a variety of petroleum hydrocarbons [833]. Three different concentrations of #2 home heating oil were tested: 1) Ten percent #2 home heating oil was found to have an LD50 of 12.0 g/kg with the 95% confidence interval falling be tween 10.2-14.1. The highest dose level administered was 16.5 g/kg. Ninety percent mortality was observed among the
test s ubjects. 2) Thirty percent #2 home heating oil was found to have an LD50 of 15.7 g/kg with the 95% confidence interval falling between 13.9-17.8 g/kg. The highest dose level given was 21 g/kg. Mortality among the test animals was 100%. 3) Fifty percent #2 home heating oil was found to have an LD50 of 17.5 g/kg with the 95% confidence interval falling between 15.4-20.5 g/kg. The highest dose level administered was 21 g/kg. Seventy percent mortality was observed among the test animals [833].

C) Body Burden Residues in Wildlife, Birds, or Domestic Animals: Typical, Elevated, or of Concern Related to the Well-being of the Organism Itself:No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Tis.Human:

A) Typical Concentrations in Human Food Survey Items:

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

B) Concentrations or Doses of Concern in Food Items Eaten by Humans (Includes Allowable Tolerances in Human Food, FDA, State and Standards of Other Countries):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

C) Body Burden Residues in Humans: Typical, Elevated, or of Concern Related to the Well-being of Humans:

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Tis.Misc. (Other Tissue Information):

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for summaries of information on individual components of this mixture.

Bio.Detail : Detailed Information on 

### Bioconcentration, Biomagnification, or Bioavailability:

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for

summar ies of information on individual components of this mixture.



### Int eractions:

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for

summar ies of information on individual components of this mixture.

### Us es/Sources:

Typical heating fuel oil is primarily used as a home heating oil [560]. Heating distillate grade no. 2 is the fuel most commonly used in residential heating installations and in many medium-capacity industrial burners. Residential heating constitutes the largest non-tr ansportation use of distillate fuels [747].



### Fo rms/ Preparations/Formulations:

Fuel oil no. 2 is generally a blend of straight-run and catalytically cracked distillates. Fuel oil no. 2 is also generally dried by passage through salt driers and filtered to remove rust and dirt. Additives include antioxidants, dispersants and corrosion inhibitors [747].

Chem.Detail : Detailed Information on 

### Chemical/Physical Properties:

Caution: Every individual petroleum product has a unique "fingerprint," or distinct set of constituents most commonly identi fied by a gas chromatograph analysis. Due to the varying properties of the same general category of a petroleum product (each source and weathering stage of a heating oil no. 2 has a unique gas chromatograph "fingerprint"), careful assessment of the toxicity, specific gravity, and other physical characteristics of each individual oil must be taken into consideration to determine the exact effects of the product on the environment. Therefore, the below comments on heating oils are to be considered as representative, but not absolute values typical of every batch of the product with the

same name.

PAHs are of concern in Fuel Oils [962]. Since PAHs are important hazardous components of this product, risk assessments should include analyses of PAHs and alkyl PAHs utilizing the NOAA protocol expanded scan [828] or other rigorous GC/MS/SIM methods. Distillate fuel oils are complex mixtures of hydrocarbons that can also contain minor amounts of sulphur-, nitrogen-, and oxygencontai ning molecules. They contain normal and branched alkanes, cycloalkanes (naphthenes), partially reduced aromatics and aromatics. If blended with cr acked stocks, they will also contain sign ificant amounts of normal, branched and cyclic olefins, and aromatic olefins, such as styrenes and indenes [747]. The p ortions of these general categories will differ from one crude oil to
anot her. Therefore, there may be appreciable differences among dist illate fuels. However, differences may be smaller than antici pated because the specifications that must be met restrict the le vels of several physical properties related to the composition [747].

Physicochemical information from Environment Canada [560]:NOTE: In this section, for properties with more than one value, each value came from its own source; in other words, if API Gravity at 60 F was measured several times and several differ ent answers were obtained, all of the answers are provided [560]:

API GRAVITY (60/60 degrees F) [560]:

NOTE: API gravity = (141.5/specific gravity [60/60 degrees F]) - 131.5, where specific gravity [60/60 degrees F] is the oil density at 60 degrees F divided by the density of water at 60 degrees F.

32.1

DENSITY (g/mL) [560]:

For temperatures of oil (T) between 0 and 30 C: Density = 0.97871 - 0.000710 T

NOTE: The densities of crude oils and oil products are dependent on the temperature and degree of weat hering. The following density values are at "0% Weathering Volume" - in other words, fresh typical heating fuel oil.

Temp( C) Density (at 0% Weathering Volume) 15.6 0.8641 20 0.8774

SOLUBILITY [560]:

Aqueous Solubility (mg/L): The solubility of oil in water can be determined by bringing to equilibrium a volume of oil and water, and then analyzing the water phase. Oil's aqueous solubility is expressed as the cumulative concentration of the individually dissolved components. Solubility is significantly reduced by weathering.

Temp not given 22 C Fresh Water 55.97 0.3 Seawater 50.92

METAL CONTENT [560]:

Other Metals (ppm):

Nickel 62 Nickel < 0.1 < 1 Vanadium 0.1 to 0.2 < 0.6 Molybdenum < 0.6 Potassium < 1.5Zinc < 0.6 Lead < 3 Iron < 3 Chromium < 1.5 Magnesium 0.5 Copper < 0.6 Titanium < 0.6 Barium < 0.3

The fo llowing table provides a detailed analysis of several heating oils (please note that although some differences are disc ernable, the gross compositions are not markedly different) [747]:

Hydrocarbon Type Sample 1* Sample 2** Sample 3*** (% volume)

Paraffins (n- and iso-) 41.3 61.2 57.2 Monocycloparaffins 22.1 8.5 6.0 Bicycloparaffins 9.6 8.3 5.0 Tricycloparaffins 2.3 1.4 0.7 Total saturated hydrocarbons 75.3 79.4 68.9

Olefins -- 2.0 7.5 Alkylbenzenes 5.9 5.3 8.0 Indans/ tetralins 4.1 4.3 5.4 Dinaphthenobenzenes/ indenes 1.8 1.3 1.0 Naphthalenes 8.2 5.8 6.8 Biphenyls/ acenaphthenes 2.6 1.1 1.6 Fluorenes/ acenaphthylenes 1.4 0.6 0.3 Phenanthrenes 0.7 0.2 0.5 Total aromatic hydrocarbons 24.7 18.6 23.6

* Sample 1 = straight-run No. 2 furnace oil ** Sample 2 = No. 2 furnace oil 10% catalytic stock *** Sample 3 = No. 2 furnace oil 50% catalytic stock

The following table lists the concentrations of three- to five-ring aromatics determined in one sample of No. 2 fuel oil (NOTE: The reference does not say whether or not it was a heating oil) [747]:

Hydrocarbon Concentration (ppm)

Phenanthrene 429 2-Methylphenanthrene 7677 1-Methylphenanthrene 173 Fluoranthene 37Pyrene 41 Benz(a)anthracene 1.2 Chrysene 2.2 Triphenylene 1.4 Benzo(a)pyrene 0.6 Benzo(e)pyrene 0.1

Additional Physicochemical information from Environment Canada [560]:

NOTE: In this section, for properties with more than one value, each value came from its own source; in other words, if API Gravity at 60 F was measured several times and several differ ent answers were obtained, all of the answers are provided [560]:

VISCOSITY

NOTE: The viscosities of crude oils and oil products are dependent on the temperature and degree of weathering. The following viscosity values are at "0% Weathering Volume" - in other words, fresh typical heating fuel oil.

Dynamic Viscosity (mPa.s or cP):

Temp( C) Dynamic Viscosity (at 0% Weathering Volume) -1.1 2.788 15.5 2.134 21.1 1.965

Pour Point (degrees C):

Pour point is the lowest temperature at which an oil sample is observed to flow when cooled under prescribed conditions. It is affected by weathering.

-29

INTERFACIAL TENSIONS

NOTE: Interfacial tension is the force of attraction between molecules at the interface of a liquid. These tensions are essential for calculating the spreading rates and the likelyextent to which the oil will form oil-in-water and water-inoil emulsions. The interfacial tensions of crude oils and oil products are dependent on the temperature and degree of weathering. The following tension values are at "0%
Weat hering Volume" - in other words, fresh typical heating fuel oil.

Air-Oil (mN/M or dynes/cm):

Temp( C) Air-Oil Tension (at 0% Weathering Volume) 20 25 (estimated)Oil-Water (mN/M or dynes/cm):

Temp( C) Oil-Water (at 0% Weathering Volume) 20 50 (estimated)

FIRE AND REACTIVITY Flash Point ( C): 57.8

DISTILLATION

NOTE: Distillation data provides an indication of an oil's volatility and relative compon ent distribution. Distillation data is reported as volume % recovered.

Distillation ( C):

(Vol%) Vapor Temp IBP 116 5 171 10 194 15 207 20 216 25 226 30 233 35 243 40 251 45 258 50 267 55 273 60 280 65 287 70 297 75 306 80 317 85 327 90 339 95 356 FBP 399

NOTE: IBP = initial boiling point FBP = final boiling point

Boiling Range ( C): 282 to 338

NON-METAL CONTENT

Nitrogen (Weight %): 0.014

Sulphur (Weight %) 0.19

SENSATIONColour Light brown

OTHER Reid method Vapor Pressure (kPa):

Temp( C) Pressure 37.8 3.689 38 2.22

See also: ATSDR toxicological profile on fuels oils in general, including this product [962].



### Fate.Detail : Detailed Information on Fate, Transport, Persistence, and/or Pathways:

See also: ATSDR toxicological profile on fuels oils in general, including this product [962].

No information found; see Chem.Detail section for compounds in this product, then see individual compound entries for

summar ies of information on individual components of this mixture.

Lab oratory and/or Field 

### Analyses:

PAHs are of concern in Fuel Oils [962]. See also: PAHs as a group and Fuel Oil, general entries. In choosing a lab method, it s hould be kept in mind that this product (as well as Diesel, No. 2 Fuel Oils, and Light Crudes) can be expected to exhibit the following characteristics [741]:

-Moderately volatile; will leave residue (up to 1/3 of spilled amount) -Moderate concentrations of toxic (soluble) compounds -Will "oil" intertidal resources with long-term contamination potential -Has potential for subtidal impacts (dissolution, mixing, sorption onto suspended sediments) -No dispersion necessary -Cleanup can be very effective

Decision Tree (dichotomous key) for selection of lab methods for measuring contamination from light crude oils and middle dis tillate petroleum products (all diesels, jet fuels, kerosene, Fuel oil 2, Heating Oil 2):

1a. Your main concern is biological effects of petroleum products...................... ..............................2

1b. Your main concern is cleanup or remediation but no ecological or human res ources are at risk............32a. The resource at risk is primar ily humans via a drinking water pathway, either the contamination of groundwater used for drinking water, or the fresh* or continuing contamination of surface waters used as drinking water, or the risk is primarily to aquatic species in confined** surface waters from a fresh* spill, or the risk is to surface waters re-emerging from contaminated groundwater resources whether the spill is fresh* or not; the medium and/or pathway of concern is water rather than sediments, soil, or tissues ....................4

2b. The resource at risk is someth ing else......................5

3a. The spilled substance is a fresh* oil product of known composition: If required to do so by a regulatory authority, perform whichever Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) analysis specified by the regulator. However, keep in mind that due to its numerous limitations, the use of the common EPA method 418.1 for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons is not recommended as a stand-alone method unless the results can first be consistently correlated (over time, as the oil ages) with the better NOAA protocol expanded scan*** for polycyclic aromatic hydroc arbons (PAHs) and alkyl PAHs. If not required to perform an EPA method 418.1-based analysis for TPH, instead perform a Gas Chromatography/Flame Ionization Detection (GC/FID) analysis for TPH using the spilled substance as a calibr ation standard. GC/FID methods can be sufficient for screening purposes when the oil contamination is fresh*, unweathered oil and when one is fairly sure of the source [657]. If diesel 1D was spilled, perform TPH-D (1D) using California LUFT manual methods (typically a modified EPA method 8015) [465] or a locally available GC/FID method of equal utility for the product spilled. However, no matter which TPH method is used, whether based on various GC/FID or
EPA me thod 418.1 protocols, the investigator should keep in mind that the effectiveness of the method typically changes as oil ages, that false positives or false negatives are possible, and that the better Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Selected Ion Mode (GC/MS/SIM) scans (such as the NOAA expanded scan***) should probably be performed at the end of remediation to be sure that the contamination has truly been cleaned up.

3b. The spilled product is not fresh* or the contamination is of unknown or mixed composition........................6

4. Analyze for Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Toluene (BTEX) compounds in water as part of a broader scan of volatiles using EPA GC/MS method 8240. The standard EPA GC/MS method 8240 protocol will be sufficient for some applications, but the standard EPA method 8240 (and especially the less rigorous EPA BTEX methods such as method 8020 for soil and method 602 for water) are all inadequate for generating scientifically defensible information for Natural Resource Damage Assessments [468]. The standard EPA methods are alsoinadequate for risk assessment purposes. Thus, when collecting information for pos sible use in a Natural Resource Damage Assessment or risk assessment, it is best to ask the lab to analyze for BTEX compounds and other volatile oil compounds using a modified EPA GC/MS method 8240 method using the lowest possible Selected Ion Mode detection limits and increasing the analyte list to include as many alkyl BTEX
compou nds as possible. Also analyze surface or (if applicable) ground water samples for polycyclic aromatic hydr ocarbons (PAHs) and alkyl PAHs using the NOAA protocol expanded scan*** modified for water samples using methylene chloride extraction. If the contaminated water is groundwater, before the groundwater is determined to be remediated, also analyze some contaminated sub-surface soils in contact with the groundwater for BTEX compounds (EPA GC/MS method 8240), and PAHs (NOAA p rotocol expanded scan***). The magnit ude of any residual soil contamination will provide insight about the likelihood of recontamination of groundwater resources through equilibria partitioning mechanisms moving contamination from soil to water.

5a. The medium of concern is sediments or soils..................6

5b. The medium of concern is biological tissues..................7

6. Perform the NOAA protocol expanded scan*** for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkyl PAHs. If there is any reason to suspect fresh* or co ntinuing contamination of soils or sediments with lighter volatile compounds, also perform EPA GC/MS method 8240 using the lowest possible Selected Ion Mode (SIM) detection limits and increasing the analyte list to incl ude as many alkyl Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene (BTEX) compounds as possible.

7a. The problem is direct coating (oiling) of wildlife or plants with spilled oil product.....................................8

7b. The problem is something else................................9

8. Perform NOAA protocol expanded scan*** for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkyl PAHs and/or GC/FID fing erprinting of the coating oil only if necessary to identify the source or exact o il. If the source is known and no confirmation lab studies are necessary: dispense with additional chemical laboratory analyses and instead document direct effects of coating: lethality, blinding, decreased reproduction from eggshell coating, etc., and begin cleaning activities if deemed potentially productive after consolations with the Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

9a. The concern is for impacts on water column organisms (such as fish or plankton)...........................................10

9b. The concern is for something else (including benthicorganisms)..................................................11

10. If exposure to fish is suspected, an HPLC/Fluorescence scan for polycyclic aromatic hydroc arbon (PAH) metabolites in bile may be performed to confirm exposure [844]. For bottomdwelling fish such as flounders or catfish, also analyze the bottom sediments (see Step 6 above). Fish which spend most of their time free-swimming above the bottom in the water column can often avoid toxicity from toxic petroleum compounds in the water column, but if fish are expiring in a confined** habitat (small pond, etc.), EPA GC/MS method 8240 and the NOAA protocol expanded scan*** for PAHs could be performed to see if Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene (BTEX), naphthalene, and other potentially toxic compounds are above known acute toxicity benchmark concentrations. Zooplankton
popu lations impacted by oil usually recover fairly quickly unless they are impacted in very confined** or shallow environments [835] and the above BTEX and PAH water methods are often recommended rather than direct analyses of zooplankton tissues.

11a. The concern is for benthic invertebrates: analyze invertebrate whole-body tissue samples and surrounding sediment samples for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkyl PAHs using the NOAA protocol expanded scan***. If the spill is fresh* or the source continuous, risk as sessment needs may also require that the sediments which form the habitat for benthic invertebrates be analyzed for Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene (BTEX) and other volatile compounds using EPA GC/MS method 8240 or modified EPA method 8240 in the Selected Ion Mode (SIM). Bivalve invertebrates such as clams and mussels do not b reak down PAHs as well or as quickly as do fish or many wildlife species. They are also less mobile. Thus, bivalve tissues are more often directly analyzed for PAH residues than are the tissues of fish or wildlife.

11b. The concern is for plants or for vertebrate wildlife including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other petroleum hydrocarbons break down fairly rapidly in many wildlife groups and tissues are
not usually analyzed directly. Instead direct effects are inves tigated and water, soil, sediment, and food items encountered by wildlife are usually analyzed for PAHs and alkyl PAHs using the NOAA protocol expanded scan***. If the spill is fresh* or the source continuous, risk assessment needs may also require that these habitat media also be analyzed for Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene (BTEX) and other volatile compounds using EPA GC/MS method 8240 or modified EPA method 8240 in the Selected Ion Mode (SIM). Less is known about pl ant effects. However, the same methods recommended above for the analyses of water (Step 4 above) and for sediments or soils (Step 6 above) are usually also r ecommended for these same media in plant or wildlife habitats. If wildlife or plants are covered with oil, seealso Step 8 (above) regarding oiling issues.

* Discussion of the significance of the word "fresh": The word "fresh" cannot be universally defined because oil breaks down faster in some environments than in others. In a hot, windy,
sunny, oil-microbe-rich, environment in the tropics, some of the lighter and more volatile comp ounds (such as the Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene compounds) would be expected to di sappear faster by evaporation into the environment and by biodegradation than in a cold, no-wind, cloudy, oil-microbe-poor environment in the arctic. In certain habitats, BTEX and other relatively water soluble compounds will tend to move to groundwater and/or subsurface soils (where degradation rates are typically slower than in a sunny well aerated surface environment). Thus, the judgement about whether or not oil contamination would be considered "fresh" is a professional judgement based on a continuum of possible scenari os. The closer in time to the original spill of nondegraded petroleum product, the greater degree the source is continuous rather than the result of a one-time event, and the more factors are present which would retard oil evaporation or br eakdown (cold, no-wind, cloudy, oil-microbe-poor conditions, etc.) the more likely it would be that in the professional judgement experts the oil w ould be considered "fresh." In other words, the degree of freshness is a continuum which depends on the specific product spilled and the specific habitat impacted. Except for groundwater resources (where the breakdown can be much slower), the fres her the middle distillate oil contamination is, the more one has to be concerned about potential impacts of BTEX compounds, and other lighter and more volatile petroleum compounds.

To assist the reader in making decisions based on the continuum of possible degrees of freshness, the following generalizations are provided: Some of the lightest middle distillates (such as Jet Fuels, Diesel, No. 2 Fuel Oil) are moderately volatile and soluble and up to two-thirds of the spill amount could disappear from surface waters after a few days [771,835]. Even heavier petroleum substances, such as medium oils and most crude oils will evaporate about one third of the product spilled within 24 hours [771]. Typically the volatile fractions disappear mostly by evaporating into the atmosphere. However, in some cases, certain water soluble frac tions of oil including Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene (BTEX) compounds move down into groundwater. BTEX compounds are included in the more volat ile and water soluble fractions, and BTEX compounds as well as the lighter alkanes are broken down more quickly by microbes than heavier semi-volatiles such as alkyl PAHs and some of the heavier and more complex aliphatic compounds. Thus after a week, or in some cases, after a few days, there is less reason to analyze surface waters for BTEX or other volatile
compou nds, and such analyses should be reserved more for potentially contaminated groundwaters. In the same manner, as the product ages, there is typically less reason to analyze for alkanes using GC/FID techniques or TPH using EPA 418.1 methods, and more reason to analyze for the more persistent alkyl PAHs using the NOAAprotocol expanded scan***.

** Discussion of the significance of the word "confined": Like the word "fresh" the word "confined" is difficult to define precisely as there is a continuum of various degrees to which a habitat would be considered "confined" versus "open." However, if one is concerned about the well-being of ecological resources such as fish which spend most of their time swimming freely above the bot tom, it makes more sense to spend a smaller proportion of analytical funding for water column and surface water analyses of Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene (BTEX) and other volatile or acutely toxic compounds if the spill is in open and/or deep waters rather than shallow or "confin ed" waters. This is because much of the oil tends to stay with a surface slick or becomes tied up in subsur face tar balls. The petroleum compounds which do pass through the water column often tend to do so in small concentrations and/or for short periods of time, and fish and other pelagic or generally mobile species can often swim away to avoid impacts from spilled oil in "open waters." Thus in many large oil spills in open or deep waters, it has often been difficult or imposs ible to attribute significant impacts to fish or other pelagic or strong swimming mobile species in open waters. Lethal ity has most often been associated with heavy exposure of juvenile fish to large amounts of oil products moving rapidly into shallow or confined waters [835]. Different fish species vary in their sensitivity to oil [835]. However, the bottom line is that in past ecological assessments of spills, often too much money has been spent on water column analyses in open water settings, when the majority of significant impacts tended to be concentrated in other habitats, such as benthic, shoreline, and surface microlayer habitats.

*** The lab protocols for the expanded scan of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkyl PAHs have been published by NOAA [828].

End of decision key.

It is important to understand that contaminants data from different labs, different states, and different agencies, co llected by different people, are often not very comparable (see also, discussion in the disclaimer section at the top of this entry). As of 1997, the problem of lack of data comparability (not only for water methods but also for soil, sediment, and tissue methods) between different "standard methods" recommended by different agencies seemed to be getting worse, if anything, rather than better. The trend in quality assurance seemed to be for various agencies, including the EPA and others, to insist on quality assurance plans for each project. In addition to quality
cont rol steps (blanks, duplicates, spikes, etc.), these quality assurance plans call for a step of insuring data comparability [1015, 1017]. However, the data comparability step is often not given sufficient consideration. The tendency of agency guidance (such as EPA SW-846 methods and some other new EPA methods for bio-concen tratable substances) to allow more and more flexibility to select options at various points along the way, makes it harder in insure data comparability or method validity. Even volunteer monitoring programs are now st rongly encouraged to develop and use quality assurance project plans [1015,1017]. At minimum, before using contaminants data from diverse sources, one should determine that field collection methods, detection limits, and lab quality control techniques were acceptable and comparable. The goal is that the analysis in the concentration range of the comparison benchmark concentration should be very precise and accurate. It should be kept in mind that quality control field and lab blanks and duplicates will not help in the data quality assurance goal as well as intended if one is using a method prone to false negatives. Methods may be prone to false negatives due to the use of detection limits that are too high, the loss of contaminants through inappropriate handling, or the use of inappropriate methods. The use of inappropriate methods is particularly common related to oil products. See also: ATSDR toxicological profile on fuels oils in general, including this product [962].