Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative

By Brandon Keim May 5, 2010 | 5:18 pm | Categories: Environment, Government


British Petroleum and government disaster-relief agencies are using a toxic chemical to disperse oil in the Gulf of Mexico, even though a better alternative appears to be available.

As the Deepwater Horizon oil spill spreads, BP and the U.S. Coast Guard have conducted tests with Corexit 9500, a chemical designed to break oil slicks into globules that are more quickly consumed by bacteria or sink into the water column before hitting shore.

The decision has been a controversial one. A few scientists think dispersants are mostly useful as public relations strategy, as they make the oil slick invisible, even though oil particles continue to do damage. Others consider Corexit the lesser of two evils: It’s known to be highly toxic, adding to the harm caused by oil, but at least it will concentrate damage at sea, sparing sensitive and highly productive coastal areas. Better to sacrifice the deep sea than the shorelines.

But even as these arguments continue, with 230,000 gallons of Corexit on tap and more commissioned by BP, a superior alternative could be left on the shelf.

Called Dispersit, it’s manufactured by the U.S. Polychemical Corporation and has been approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency. Both Corexit and Dispersit were tested by the EPA, and according to those results, Corexit was 54.7 percent effective at breaking down crude oil from the Gulf, and Dispersit was 100 percent effective.



Read More http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/05/gulf-dispersants/


I suspect the real reason is that US Polychemical hasn't been keeping up their bribe levels to Congress lately.....

Corexit 9500 be related to the fact that it is made by Exxon? Just curious.

I find it troubling that Corexit 9500 is only like 50% effective and much more toxic while Dispersit is 100% effective and less toxic. Someone is getting paid off!

has been sent to the Gulf area. WA State has never used the dispersant because of concerns about its effects on the environment.

Evidently, spilling oil is a bad thing.

why are they allowed to do this?

it's bad enough Interior Dept Salazar and company exempted BP from an environmental impact study.....Salazar should step down....now this?

MSDS located here: http://www.cleancaribbean.org/cgi-bin/loadAll.cgi?toget=dispersant

Hazardous ingredients for 9500:
Hazardous Substance(s) CAS NO % (w/w)

Distillates, petroleum, hydrotreated light 64742-47-8 10.0 - 30.0
Propylene Glycol 57-55-6 1.0 - 5.0
Organic sulfonic acid salt Proprietary 10.0 - 30.0



The sulfonic acid salt is probably some surfactant (read: soap) to coat oil droplets and make them soluble in water (a.k.a. micellization).

It doesn't get much more poisonous than that.

No more spill! (just ignore the millions of fish floating upside down...)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8280112

Hope this helps to keep this important information visible.