A new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin shows that oil is still seeping from the wreck of the USS Arizona, more than 80 years after its sinking at Pearl Harbor. The
A new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin shows that oil is still seeping from the wreck of the USS Arizona, more than 80 years after its sinking at Pearl Harbor. The study focuses on samples collected by the National Park Service in 2016 and 2018.
Researchers, led by the University of Houston and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), analyzed oil samples collected from multiple leak points on the sunken battleship, using advanced molecular fingerprinting techniques. The results confirm the oil is a heavy fuel oil refined from California crude, consistent with U.S. Navy fueling practices in the early 1940s. Despite being underwater for decades, the oil retains high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), compounds known for their persistence and potential toxicity.
WHOI Marine Chemist Chris Reddy collects oil samples from the USS Arizona Memorial in 2018. (Photo by Brett Seymour, NPS Submerged Resources Center)
Researchers also found that the chemical composition of the oil varies depending on the leak location, reflecting differing degrees of natural “weathering” processes, including microbial biodegradation and dissolution. While lighter compounds are gradually breaking down, key petroleum biomarkers remain intact, allowing scientists to trace the oil’s source and behavior over time.
Although the oil seeping
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