Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Toxic Dispersants in Gulf Harming All Forms of Life

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=20127

Excellent Article!

Here is another, more technical, analysis of how oil degradation is impacted by dispersants and their potential effects posted at the Oil Drum:
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6724
In the quote below, the author, Dr. Stephen Humphrey, is discussing a report analyzing the effectiveness and effects of dispersants. He points out that the toxicity of dispersants for marine life has not been studied:

"The report identified several critical knowledge gaps, including toxicity to particular organisms from exposure to dispersed oil, the final fate of chemically dispersed oil, and the effectiveness of dispersants for different oil types and environmental conditions. One key finding was: “The mechanisms of both acute and sublethal toxicity from exposure to dispersed oil are not sufficiently understood. Recent studies in the literature suggest that toxicity from physically and chemically dispersed oil appears to be primarily associated with the additive effects of various dissolved-phase polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) with additional contributions from heterocyclic (N, S, and O) containing polycyclic aromatic compounds. Additional toxicity may be coming from the particulate, or oil droplet, phase, but a particular concern stems from potential synergistic effects of exposure to dissolved components in combination with chemically dispersed oil droplets.”

[Majia here: PERHAPS SOMEONE CAN EXPLAIN WHY THE EPA WOULD ALLOW MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF DISPERSANT TO BE USED WHEN TOXICITY IS POORLY UNDERSTOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

HOWEVER...Dr Humphrey makes a good point when he concludes:

"It’s remarkable to me how much people have discussed toxicity of dispersants, and how little people have discussed the toxicity of crude oil, which is high for people and many other organisms. We definitely need to learn whether dispersant allows the oil to degrade fast enough and in large enough quantities to offset damage done by spreading the oil through more of the environment for longer. But we also need a comparable public discussion of the toxicity of the oil to people, to habitats and animals along the shore, and to the myriad creatures of the Gulf of Mexico."

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