Documents indicate heavy use of dispersants in gulf oil spill

[kpete]

Source: Washington Post

Documents indicate heavy use of dispersants in gulf oil spill

By David A. Fahrenthold and Steven Mufson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 1, 2010

While the BP well was still gushing, the Obama administration issued an order that limited the spreading of controversial dispersant chemicals on the Gulf of Mexico's surface. Their use, officials said, should be restricted to "rare cases."

But in reality, federal documents show, the use of dispersants wasn't rare at all.

Despite the order -- and concerns about the environmental effects of the dispersants-- the Coast Guard granted requests to use them 74 times over 54 days, and to use them on the surface and deep underwater at the well site. The Coast Guard approved every request submitted by BP or local Coast Guard commanders in Houma, La., although in some cases it reduced the amount of the chemicals they could use, according to an analysis of the documents prepared by the office of Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.).

The documents indicate that "these exemptions are in no way a 'rare' occurrence, and have allowed surface application of the dispersant to occur virtually every day since the directive was issued," Markey wrote in a letter dated Aug. 1 to retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad W. Allen, the government's point man on the spill. Markey chairs the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/31/AR2010073102381.html?hpid=topnews

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Was there really ever any doubt that BP was using dispersants as widely and

as quickly as possible to hide the full extent of the spill...without the slightest regard for their toxic effects...

They may very well have been doing to the Gulf area what Agent Orange did to Viet Nam. It may take decades to discover the
full range of the toxic effects that have occurred.

[NC_Nurse]

3. No. In fact, I recall at one point the EPA telling them to stop using them and

They ignored the order. Didn't seem like it was exactly a secret either.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. I recall that as well.

[The Flaming Red Head]

5. Lisa Jackson didn’t exactly fight them on it either

In fact she allowed it to continue. She didn't see it as any problem at all.

[NC_Nurse]

6. Yup. So much for tough oversight. Not that there ever has been any...

[KT2000]

2. the dispersants are not

very well studied. What little is known indicates terrible toxicity for all living things.
BP and the government will hide behind the lack of published research on those dispersants and deny liability and responsibility for the damage done to the people and critters.
Court cases will be thrown out.
Making the connection to a specific illness will be "speculative."
These people have a rough road ahead of them.

[DCBob]

9. I wouldnt say "terrible toxicity".. at least according to information on wikipedia about it..

Here is wikipedia reference on Corexit..

The relative toxicity of Corexit and other dispersants are difficult to determine due to a scarcity of scientific data.<3> The manufacturer's safety data sheet states "No toxicity studies have been conducted on this product," and later concludes "The potential human hazard is: Low."<20> According to the manufacturer's website, workers applying Corexit should wear breathing protection and work in a ventilated area.<21> Compared with 12 other dispersants listed by the EPA, Corexit 9500 and 9527 are either similarly toxic or 10 to 20 times more toxic.<7> In another preliminary EPA study of eight different dispersants, Corexit 9500 was found to be less toxic to some marine life than other dispersants and to break down within weeks, rather than settling to the bottom of the ocean or collecting in the water.<22> None of the eight products tested are "without toxicity", according to an EPA administrator, and the ecological effect of mixing the dispersants with oil is unknown, as is the toxicity of the breakdown products of the dispersant.<22>

Corexit 9527, considered by the EPA to be an acute health hazard, is stated by its manufacturer to be potentially harmful to red blood cells, the kidneys and the liver, and may irritate eyes and skin.<23><14> The chemical 2-butoxyethanol, found in Corexit 9527, was identified as having caused lasting health problems in workers involved in the cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.<24> According to the Alaska Community Action on Toxics, the use of Corexit during the Exxon Valdez oil spill caused people "respiratory, nervous system, liver, kidney and blood disorders".<16> Like 9527, 9500 can cause hemolysis (rupture of blood cells) and may also cause internal bleeding.<4>

According to the EPA, Corexit is more toxic than dispersants made by several competitors and less effective in handling southern Louisiana crude.<25> On May 20, 2010, the EPA ordered BP to look for less toxic alternatives to Corexit, and later ordered BP to stop spraying dispersants, but BP responded that it thought that Corexit was the best alternative and continued to spray it.<3>

Reportedly Corexit may be toxic to marine life and helps keep spilled oil submerged. There is concern that the quantities used in the Gulf will create 'unprecedented underwater damage to organisms.'<26> Nalco spokesman Charlie Pajor said that oil mixed with Corexit is "more toxic to marine life, but less toxic to life along the shore and animals at the surface" because the dispersant allows the oil to stay submerged below the surface of the water.<27> Corexit 9500 causes oil to form into small droplets in the water; fish may be harmed when they eat these droplets.<4> According to its Material safety data sheet, Corexit may also bioaccumulate, remaining in the flesh and building up over time.<28> Thus predators who eat smaller fish with the toxin in their systems may end up with much higher levels in their flesh.<4>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corexit

I wouldnt want to the eat the stuff but if it had "terrible toxicity" there would be millions of dead fish floating all over the Gulf now.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

10. You think this is not "terrible toxicity"?

Does not raise a red flag that "No toxicity studies have been conducted on this product"?

Or though they assure us "The potential human hazard is low", "the use of Corexit during the Exxon Valdez oil spill caused people "respiratory, nervous system, liver, kidney and blood disorders...(Both) 9527 and 9500 can cause hemolysis (rupture of blood cells) and may also cause internal bleeding".

2-butoxyethanol has also been detected at high levels in BP oil spill responders.

Corexit 9500 contains "Distillates, petroleum, hydrotreated light," and Corexit 9527 contains 2-Butoxyethanol -- solvents. They don't give exact information about how much of the substances are in the dispersants, instead they tell us "9500 can be composed of anywhere from 10 to 30 percent petroleum distillates", and "2-Butoxyethanol makes up anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of 9527".

The International Chemical Scorecard states, re petroleum distillates: "The substance is harmful to aquatic organisms"

Some Examples of results of toxicity tests, and there are PLENTY MORE out there, if you care to look:

From Marine Pollution Bulletin; Volume 8, Issue 6, June 1977, Pages 136-138; Sunniva Lönninga and Berndt E. Hagström, Institute of Biology and Geology University of Tromsö, Norway
"The effect of the water soluble oil dispersant Corexit 9527 was tested on larvae from several species of sea urchins and marine fishes. Severe effects in fertilization and development were registered often resulting in pathological larvae and rapid cytolysis. The combination of Corexit 9527 with oil was found to be even more dangerous to the embryo than Corexit or oil alone.

The effects of Esso Corexit 9527 on the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa
"The water-soluble oil dispersant Esso Corexit 9527 has earlier been found to interfere, even in low concentrations, with fertilization and development. Further studies of the effect on sea urchin spermatozoa demonstrate that Corexit 9527 gives negative biological effects in concentrations down to 0.0003 ppm.

E. B. Hartwick, R. S. S. Wu* and D. B. Parker, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Marine Environmental Research; Volume 6, Issue 4, June 1982

Effects of a crude oil and an oil dispersant (Corexit 9527) on populations of the littleneck clam
..."Corexit 9527 was much more toxic than crude oil, and the highest toxicity was obtained when Corexit 9527 was mixed with crude oil. Siphon activities were impaired and abnormal behaviour was exhibited when adult clams were treated with 100 ppm Corexit 9527, 1000 ppm crude oil or a combination of both....Mortality was observed when the clams were treated with 100ppm Corexit 9527 and was highest (in both laboratory and field experiments) when treated with a mixture of 100ppm Corexit 9527 and 1000ppm oil"

from National Institute of Oceanography, Tel Shikmona, Israel; Institute of Systematics and Ecology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Netherlands Institute for Sea Research:

Toxicity of Dispersants and Dispersed Egyptian Crude Oil on Red Sea Coral Larvae... "Dispersed oil exposures resulted in a dramatic increase in toxicity to both coral larvae species. Furthermore, dispersants and WAFs treatments caused larval morphology deformations, loss of normal swimming behaviour and rapid tissue degeneration...We suggest avoidance of the use of chemical dispersion in cases of oil spills near or within coral reef habitats."

[DCBob]

11. Yes, its toxic but "terrible"?? How would you describe arsenic?

you are running out of superlatives. I also think there is a risk/benefit judgment here. If they didnt use it, what would have happened? Seems the problem would have been worse, much worse.. even "terrible".. imo.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

12. Hope you are being paid well

your whitewashing efforts are heroic, but still unconvincing.

[DCBob]

13. NO.. and is that kind of comment allowed here?

I am just trying to inteject some sanity into this conversation. You and your comments are pathetic.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

16. I think calling people "pathetic" is less tolerated

Your biased comments re the devastating effects of the Gulf oil "spill" can hardly be defined as "sanity"

[DCBob]

17. you were the first throw an insult.. and it was pathetic.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

19. not to me.

[CreekDog]

26. you've been practically spamming DU with minimization of the spill and now defense of Corexit

whether that poster says it or not, do you have any idea how many people think it?

[arikara]

32. There is absolutely no sanity involved

with spreading millions of gallons of toxins around in the gulf. It has already been well established that corexit is the worst and most toxic of the dispersants... if that should even turn out to be the best way to go for the life of the gulf. Which in my humble opinion is highly doubtful, I think its being used to hide the oil and limit british petroleum's liability.

[CreekDog]

27. I don't think he's being paid

While the posts are minimizing the spill at every turn --they aren't doing it well.

:eyes:

[The Flaming Red Head]

31. Not Terrible? Tell that to the 500 million birds

that migrate to that area yearly

[eowyn_of_rohan]

14. If this were toxic, "there would be millions of dead fish floating all over the Gulf now" THERE ARE:

Millions Of Fish Wash Ashore In Gulfport
Not Yet Known If Oil Spill Was Factor (Did you write that part? LOL)
WDSU New Orleans News 9:48 am CDT July 20, 2010

http://www.wdsu.com/news/24323278/detail.html

[DCBob]

15. That's not good.. regardless of the cause.. but thats the only report I have heard of any major kill

since the gusher was capped. Please send more if you have them. I would expect reports of kills all over not just one beach.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

18. oh brother...burden of proof is on you this time

and wait - isn't this thread about DISPERSANTS? How does "since the gusher was capped" have anything to do with it? lol

[DCBob]

20. If this is true and related to the dispersant's or oil or whatever then its a serious problem.

I have no problem acknowledging that. It would be nice to have some testing done however. Actually the is the first major fish kill (in the millions) I have heard of during the entire spill.. before or after capping.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

22. Here is another you must have missed

MAY 19, 2010
Millions of Dead Bait Fish Wash Ashore in Louisiana
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8372977

And if you lower your criteria to fish kills in the 1000's rather than millions - I mean, why must it be "millions" to be relative? -here is another:

Associated Press, June 24, 2010:
1000’s dead baby fish wash ashore South of Cuba, “rare in Cayman Islands”
Their Sargassum / seaweed shelter soaked with oil
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8639320

[DCBob]

23. Thanks.. I will take a look.

[Uncle Joe]

34. Thanks for the pic, story and link, eowyn.

I haven't seen this one before.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

35. You're very welcome

It just happened last week, but I was REALLY surprised that it hadn't been posted yet.

[Robbien]

7. Documents indicate heavy use of dispersants in gulf oil spill (Coast Guard granted permission)

Source: Washington Post

While the BP well was still gushing, the Obama administration issued an order that limited the spreading of controversial dispersant chemicals on the Gulf of Mexico's surface. Their use, officials said, should be restricted to "rare cases."

But in reality, federal documents show, the use of dispersants wasn't rare at all.

Despite the order -- and concerns about the environmental effects of the dispersants -- the Coast Guard granted requests to use them 74 times over 54 days, and to use them on the surface and deep underwater at the well site. The Coast Guard approved every request submitted by BP or local Coast Guard commanders in Houma, La.

The documents indicate that "these exemptions are in no way a 'rare' occurrence, and have allowed surface application of the dispersant to occur virtually every day since the directive was issued," Markey wrote in a letter dated Aug. 1 to retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad W. Allen

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/31/AR2010073102381.html

---

The Coast Guard approval was a given.

BP says, hey we did nothing wrong, we got approval from the Feds for all of our actions.

The well was capped on July 15th

The last time BP used dispersants was July 19th

[defendandprotect]

8. Think we all have "spill" fatigue . . . Imagine the stress the people there are suffering!!

And we still have the Michigan "leak" --

and wasn't there another one -- also in the Gulf -- barge hit a rig?

[eowyn_of_rohan]

21. hope it doesn't just become "boring news" to people

we should all be stressed over this, and should support those who live in the affected areas by, at the very least, staying informed.

[defendandprotect]

24. Don't think anyone finding "boring" . . . but I do think there is frustration . . .

about an absense of sane -- common sense -- activity on oil -

NATIONALIZING it, for one --

Having government take complete control of this

Understanding the huge amount of oil "spilled" into the Gulf and BP now trying to

walk away from that --

Amounts were never really monitored -- and with the dispersant it's not really visible --

Shutting down current and future oil rigs -- and

Reasserting the 26 year moritorium that was overturned in the Bush years --

That's the kind of FATIGUE I'm talking about --

[eowyn_of_rohan]

25. True---frustration and sense of hopelessness & powerlessness

i understand that alright. Just think nothing will happen unless there is great public pressure... and from what I see around here, and when I am out and about, it doesn't seem like it is going to happen. As this becomes "old news", there is even less of a chance

[defendandprotect]

29. Americans still have too much TRUST in government ... sitting back and waiting

for leadership to do what they're supposed to be doing --

and sitting in front of their TVs waiting for the anchors to tell them

something is or isn't happening --

all final truths still come from that box, evidently!!


Americans have never been political -- we have to find a way of making that happen --

What we once had used to bubble up from Union and members --

and from Democratic Party representatives hanging out in neighborhoods -- they were out

there all the time -- available, explaining to other Democrats what was going on and why.

All of that is long gone -- no neighborhood reps any longer. The appeal changed from the

"people" to the elites -- misdirection!

This is from a higher perspective than oil, of course -- but it's what we need to happen.


We need people sitting around in cafes talking politics -- without bashing one another on

the head -- cause in the beginning, it will be very difficult to get thru the very

successful propaganda.

But -- it's what has to happen --

From the cafes to the streets -- but we have to get action going citizen to citizen first!

[Karenina]

28. This is all so UNFICKINFASSBAR.

And NOW, NOW theses proven decades-long scofflaws want to take YET ANOTHER RISK even as they report the relief wells so close. WHY? As a Brownie Scout it was drummed into my little head, "Always err on the side of safety." :crazy:

I'm glad I'm so old. I have NO INTEREST in watching this shit play out, as the trailers in the Gulf remind me of Mad Max.
See: Losing Louisiana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQcPOQXc9vE

Has BP cleaned up its fecal matter on the Atlantis? Has ANYONE forced them to address it? Is the public informed? Yet?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/37229229#37199423


After having called out what my circumstances have allowed me to experience, understand, recognize, then having stood on another corner for a different perspective, hoping to share and having faced the consequences for doing so, I'm relaxed. Do what you are able. Each of us must simply do the very best that we can.

[CountAllVotes]

30. nothing to see here

move right along now. Keep up the denial until it KILLS YOU (and it will ...).

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[Uncle Joe]

33. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[The Flaming Red Head]

36. Back to the top