[StBernard] EPA Releases First Round of Toxicity Testing Data for Eight Oil Dispersants

[Westley Annis]

EPA Releases First Round of Toxicity Testing Data for Eight Oil Dispersants 

  

WASHINGTON -The US Environmental Protection Agency today released peer
reviewed results from the first round of its own independent toxicity
testing on eight oil dispersants. EPA conducted testing to ensure that
decisions about ongoing dispersant use in the Gulf of Mexico continue to be
grounded in the best available science. 

  

EPA's results indicated that none of the eight dispersants tested, including
the product in use in the Gulf, displayed biologically significant endocrine
disrupting activity. While the dispersant products alone - not mixed with
oil - have roughly the same impact on aquatic life, JD-2000 and Corexit 9500
were generally less toxic to small fish and JD-2000 and SAF-RON GOLD were
least toxic to mysid shrimp.  While this is important information to have,
additional testing is needed to further inform the use of dispersants. 

  

"EPA is performing independent tests to determine the potential impacts of
various dispersants. We will continue to conduct additional research before
providing a final recommendation, " said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
"We want to ensure that every tool is available to mitigate the impact of
the BP spill and protect our fragile wetlands.  But we continue to direct BP
to use dispersants responsibly and in as limited an amount as possible."  

  

EPA continues to carefully monitor BP's use of dispersant in the Gulf.
Dispersants are generally less toxic than oil and can prevent some oil from
impacting sensitive areas along the Gulf Coast. EPA believes BP should use
as little dispersant as necessary and, on May 23, Administrator Jackson and
then-Federal On-Scene Coordinator Rear Admiral Mary Landry directed BP to
reduce dispersant usage by 75 percent from peak usage. EPA and the Coast
Guard formalized that order in a directive to BP on May 26. Over the next
month BP reduced dispersant use 68 percent from that peak. 

  

Before directing BP to ramp down dispersant use, EPA directed BP to analyze
potential alternative dispersants for toxicity and effectiveness. BP
reported to EPA that they were unable to find a dispersant that is less
toxic than Corexit 9500, the product currently in use. Following that, EPA
began its own scientific testing of eight dispersant products on the
National Contingency Plan Product Schedule (NCP-PS). Those dispersant
products are: Dispersit SPC 1000, Nokomis 3-F4, Nokomis 3-AA, ZI-400,
SAF-RON Gold, Sea Brat #4, Corexit 9500 A and JD 2000. Today's results
represent the first stage of that effort. 

  

EPA tested these eight products for endocrine disrupting activity and
potential impacts on small fish and mysid shrimp. The testing found: 

  

.         None of the eight dispersants tested displayed biologically
significant endocrine disrupting activity. 

.         While all eight dispersants alone - not mixed with oil - showed
roughly the same effects, JD-2000 and Corexit 9500 proved to be the least
toxic to small fish, and JD-2000 and SAF-RON GOLD were the least toxic to
the mysid shrimp. 

  

The next phase of EPA's testing will assess the acute toxicity of multiple
concentrations of Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil alone and combinations of
Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil with each of the eight dispersants for two test
species. 

  

To view the first round of test results please visit:
http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/dispersants
<http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/dispersants>  

  

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