EPA: Dispersants Less Toxic Than Oil; Should Be Used Sparingly

30th Jun 2010 20:10

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES U.S. environmental regulators said Wednesday that none of eight oil dispersants it tested, including the one being used to break up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, significantly disrupts the vital endocrine systems of marine creatures, although more study is required. More than a million and a half gallons of chemical dispersants have been used to break down the millions of barrels of oil that have gushed into the Gulf over the 10 weeks since the Deepwater Horizon burned and sank, springing the leak, in late April. Use of the chemicals has raised fears of damage to aquatic life, in particular to the endocrine system that regulates reproductive and neurological development in animals. "Dispersants are generally less toxic than oil and can prevent some oil from impacting sensitive areas along the Gulf Coast," the Environmental Protection Agency said in a press release. The agency said it continues to perform independent tests to determine the potential impacts of the dispersants and will conduct additional research before making a final recommendation on their use. All of the eight dispersants tested, including Corexit 9500--the one used by BP thus far--showed roughly the same effects in tests when not mixed with oil, the EPA said. However two dispersants--JD-2000 and Corexit 9500--proved least toxic to small fish, while JD-2000 and SAF-RON GOLD were least toxic to the mysid shrimp. The EPA said its next stage of testing will assess the toxicity of the Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil that's leaking into the Gulf, as well as combinations of the crude with each of the eight dispersants. -By Mark Long and Cassandra Sweet, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2145; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 30, 2010 15:10 ET (19:10 GMT)