A recent report on the chemical dispersants used on the BP oil spill suggests it could be years before the full range of human and environmental effects are clear. "The Chaos of Clean-up" report was recently released through a partnership between Toxipedia Consulting Services of Washington and Earthjustice, a nonprofit public interest law firm based in California. The Louisiana based Gulf Restoration Network and Florida Wildlife Federation funded the scientific review of the dispersants chemical makeup and potential effects on environmental and marine health.
The use of chemical dispersants to clean up the BP Oil spill has been the subject of debate and scrutiny since clean-up began in the summer of 2010. While some maintain that the use of nearly 1.8 million gallons of dispersants was the most efficient way to stop oil from seeping onshore and damaging coastline, others believe the potentially harmful effects of dispersants and application methods warranted careful consideration.
The report's main goal was to analyze the toxicity of various chemicals used in the dispersants in response to claims made by the EPA and BP regarding dispersants' safe toxicity levels. The name and quantity of the exact chemicals used in a dispersant product belong to dispersant manufacturers and are not released. Environmental advocates hope this report will encourage the EPA to research and release toxicity and safety information for all chemical ingredients used in oil dispersants. Without a complete list of dispersant ingredients, assessment of the effects of a dispersant product is impossible.
There is a wide range of effects associated with some of the chemicals used in dispersants. Effects may also vary depending on the environment and exposure level. The "Chaos of Clean-Up" report suggests the oil dispersants used could contain toxins and cancer-causing agents that may be harmful to humans and animals. Because a full list of dispersant ingredients has not been released, the report remains speculative. A group of Gulf Coast scientists are currently engaged in a three year BP funded research study of the effects of dispersant use.
"At this point, we cannot do anything about what already happened. What the public needs to do is make sure it never happens again", said Cynthia Sarthou of the Gulf Restoration Network. "Dispersants may not be the way to deal with oil disasters."
http://www.pnj.com/article/20110926/NEWS09/109260325/Study-shows-dispersants-BP-used-oil-spill-may-cause-cancer?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
