Is Crude Oil Bioremediation Affected by Changes in Ambient Ultraviolet Radiation?

Biodegradation of Iranian light crude oil using an oleophilic fertilizer (F1) was investigated in two 30-day runs in a mesocosm simulation of a typical Mediterranean shore in the winter and spring periods of 1996 and 1997. At the end of the 30-day periods alkane biodegradation was dramatic (70%) and statistically significant only in the first run (November–December). Given that the fluctuations in all other parameters were minimal, the notable reduction in biodegradation efficiency during the second run is thought to be related to the nearly three-fold increase in total dose of solar UV-B radiation.