ENVIRO-NEWS: EPA Releases Second Phase of Toxicity Testing Data for Eight Oil Dispersants

For what it's worth, here are the WPA study results on dispersants used in the BP oil disaster. I can't say it will do anything for the damage that has been done or BP will be any more liable for there neglagance.
In my opinion, BP is a foreign entity that has done nothing short of an act of covert terrorism against the people of the United States. The suffering from which will be realized for generations.
AP

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Aug 2, 2010 1:56 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Releases Second Phase of Toxicity Testing Data for Eight Oil Dispersants
To: <Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>

From: U.S. EPA [mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 1:25 PM
Subject: Emergency Response News Release (HQ): EPA Releases Second Phase
of Toxicity Testing Data for Eight Oil Dispersants

CONTACT:
EPA Press Office
press@epa.gov
202-564-6794

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 2, 2010


EPA Releases Second Phase of Toxicity Testing Data for Eight Oil
Dispersants

WASHINGTON -The US Environmental Protection Agency today released peer
reviewed results from the second phase of its independent toxicity
testing on mixtures of eight oil dispersants with Louisiana Sweet Crude
Oil. EPA conducted the tests as part of an effort to ensure that EPA
decisions remain grounded in the best available science and data.

EPA's results indicate that the eight dispersants tested have similar
toxicities to one another when mixed with Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil.
These results confirm that the dispersant used in response to the oil
spill in the gulf, Corexit 9500A, when mixed with oil, is generally no
more or less toxic than mixtures with the other available alternatives.
The results also indicate that dispersant-oil mixtures are generally no
more toxic to the aquatic test species than oil alone.

"EPA has committed to following the science at every stage of this
response - that's why we required BP to launch a rigorous dispersant
monitoring program, why we directed BP to analyze potential alternatives
and why EPA undertook this independent analysis of dispersant products,"
said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "We have said all along that the
use of dispersant presents environmental tradeoffs, which is why we took
steps to ensure other response efforts were prioritized above dispersant
use and to dramatically cut dispersant use. Dispersant use virtually
ended when the cap was placed on the well and its use dropped 72 percent
from peak volumes following the joint EPA-U.S. Coast Guard directive to
BP in late May."

The standard acute toxicity tests were conducted on juvenile shrimp and
small fish that are found in the gulf and are commonly used in toxicity
testing. The tests were conducted on mixtures of Louisiana Sweet Crude
Oil and eight different dispersant products found on the National
Contingency Plan Product Schedule - Dispersit SPC 1000, Nokomis 3-F4,
Nokomis 3-AA, ZI-400, SAFRON Gold, Sea Brat #4, Corexit 9500 A and JD
2000. The same eight dispersants were used during EPA's first round of
independent toxicity testing.

All eight dispersants were found to be less toxic than the
dispersant-oil mixture to both test species. Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil
was more toxic to mysid shrimp than the eight dispersants when tested
alone. Oil alone had similar toxicity to mysid shrimp as the
dispersant-oil mixtures, with exception of the mixture of Nokomis 3-AA
and oil, which was found to be more toxic than oil.

While there has been virtually no dispersant use since the well was
capped on July 15 - only 200 gallons total applied on July 19 - EPA's
environmental monitoring continues.

EPA required rigorous, ongoing monitoring as a condition of authorizing
BP's use of dispersant in the gulf. Dispersants prevent some oil from
impacting sensitive areas along the gulf coast. EPA's position has been
that 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.

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 then in
use. Following that, EPA began its own scientific testing of eight
dispersant products.

EPA released the first round of data - on the dispersant products alone
- on June 30. Today's results represent the second and final stage of
the independent acute toxicity tests.

View the toxicity test results: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/dispersants


R263

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