EPA Testing Oil Dispersants: Do we trust the results?

You decide.
ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Releases First Round of Toxicity Testing Data for Eight Oil Dispersants

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Jun 30, 2010 3:39 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Releases First Round of Toxicity Testing Data for Eight Oil Dispersants
To: <Enviro-News@nal.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 2:39 PM
Subject: BP Oil Spill Response Update: EPA Releases First Round of
Toxicity Testing Data for Eight Oil Dispersants

CONTACT:
press@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2010

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

R232
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