EPA Says Dispersants Less Toxic Than Oil

by Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News Service

The Environmental Protection Agency finished its second round of toxicity testing on eight chemical dispersants and released their findings in a conference call Monday. The second round of tests on the dispersants used to combat the BP-Deepwater Horizon oil spill focused on testing the chemicals for their toxicity as compared to or combined with Sweet Louisiana Crude Oil.

Dr. Paul Anastas, the EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, told reporters that the findings show similar toxicity levels for oil-dispersant mixtures and oil alone, and that all dispersants tested less toxic than oil-dispersant mixtures. Anastas reiterated that the crude is, “enemy number one.”

The EPA supported the administration’s efforts to curtail the use of dispersants since the EPA’s May 26th directive to BP to cut down chemical application by 75%, and stated in a press release Monday; “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.”

The first round of dispersant toxicity testing set out to determine the toxicity of eight chemical dispersants and their differences. The first report released in June that, “none of the eight dispersants tested, including the product in use in the Gulf, displayed biologically significant endocrine disrupting activity.” 

Although the EPA administrator assured that the testing was thorough and appropriate, some critics have brought up questions over the EPA’s sole use of juvenile fish and shrimp, which may leave room for confounding variables like reproductive issues. Some also questioned Anastas over the fact that the tests were done at “standard” temperatures and conditions, and not conditions that would mimic the recent use of the dispersants in underwater applications and extreme temperatures and pressures.