Effect on Air Quality for the Gulf Coast. One of the concerns of the
oil spill was its impact on air quality for the Gulf Coast, which was
at times downwind of DWH. Because the SOA particles that
formed over the DWH oil spill were present in relatively large
concentrations, were dispersed in a wide plume, and continued
to increase in mass downwind, these particles potentially had a
measurable effect on ambient levels of aerosol particles in coastal
communities directly downwind of the spill. Volatile HC and
ozone mixing ratios were also enhanced downwind of the oil spill,
but they were confined to narrower plumes.