TAR CONTAMINATION ON BEACHES IN CURACAO, NETHERLANDS-ANTILLES

Tar pollution on Curacao beaches was monitored at 10 stations around t he island on monthly visits for 14 months, Accumulated tar at stations in coastal areas susceptible to tar pollution (the wave-exposed north east coast and the industrial, central south-west coast) averaged 954 +/- 779 g m(-1) (SD), excluding the most grossly polluted study site, Two wave-sheltered southwest coast beaches lying outside the industria l zone yielded no tar at any time, The beaches of the northeast coast, and those of the industrial zone of the south-west coast (oil termina ls and refining) differed in terms of the level and temporal pattern o f tar influx, as well as in the physical nature of tar contamination. On north-east coast beaches the average monthly influx of new and resi dual tar to clean beach transects amounted to 127+/-471 g m(-1) month( -1). Lowest influx rates were in October-December, corresponding large ly with the main rainy season, Highest influx rates were in January-Ma y, corresponding with a period of more easterly, longshore winds, On b eaches of the central south-west coast, the average monthly influx of tar month(-1), while the amounted to 53+/-193 g m(-1) temporal pattern suggested periodic fluctuation of influx throughout the year, The occ urrence of rubble beaches, which have been largely solidified by oil c ontamination, is indicative of the impact of occasional significant sp ills which have affected the central south-west coast.