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Scientists: Dispersants May Delay Recovery of the Gulf By Years ... Or Decades
The government and BP claim that the combination of Corexit and crude oil is less toxic than crude oil by itself.
Is that true?
Well, scientists have found that when Corexit is applied to the actual crude oil from BP's well, it releases 35 times more toxic chemicals into the water column than would be released with crude alone.
And
the tests conducted by the EPA which purport to show that dispersant
plus crude is less toxic than oil alone used a combination of Corexit
with Louisiana light crude oil. However, the oil coming out of BP's
leaking well contains an unusually high concentration of methane. As
CBS notes:
The oil emanating from the seafloor contains about 40 percent methane, compared with about 5 percent
found in typical oil deposits, said John Kessler, a Texas A&M
University oceanographer who is studying the impact of methane from
the spill.
It is doubtful that the EPA used such unusually methane-rich oil in their testing.
More
importantly, EPA toxicity tests on the dispersant-oil mixture were
conducted at sea level pressures (in other words, the pressure at the surface of the ocean). But enormous quantities of Corexit have been applied 5,000 feet under the ocean at the leaking wellhead.
As the New York Times noted in May:
There has been significant research in response to spills over the past few decades, especially the Exxon-Valdez spill in Alaska in 1989 and the Prestige spill in 2002 off the coast of Spain.
But all of the scientific precedent is from spills from tankers or near shore.
"We
are working with reliable knowledge from that science," Plumb said,
"but it is limited and not across the scale or scope of the ecosystem
we are in now."Scientists and responders are prepared to deal
with oiled birds and shoreline effects, because those are the usual
problems. An ongoing oil spill a mile under water is unchartered ground.
"We've
never dealt with this kind of deep water, we've never dealt with this
amount of dispersants, we've never dealt with the Gulf," [Roger Helm,
chief of the contaminants division of the Fish and Wildlife Service]
said. "We're in a very early phase of the science here; there is not a
lot of experimental work or practical work upon which to base the
work we're doing."
Marine biologist and toxicologist
Dr. Chris Pincetich - who has an extensive background in testing the
effects of chemicals on fish - told me yesterday that scientists have no idea what compounds will be formed when Corexit dispersant and oil interact under the high pressures
present at BP's deepwater spill site (Dr. Pincetich directed
environmental toxicity testing as a consultant and lab supervisor for
many years, and now works to protect endangered sea turtles at the Sea
Turtle Restoration Project, http://www.seaturtles.org).
And as Scientific American notes, breakdown products from the dispersant might be toxic as well:
For
example, more testing will be needed to determine if the breakdown of
Corexit 9500 - either into other chemicals or when metabolized by
animals - produces toxic products of its own. "In toxicology, it's
quite often not the original compound that's the toxic entity,"
[toxicologist Cary Mitchelmore of the University of Maryland, who
co-authored a National Research Council report on dispersants in 2005]
notes.
Indeed, even Sergio Alex Villalobos, toxicologist for Nalco - maker of the Corexit dispersant - says:
Once it’s mixed with oil, that’s where you get the most impact, that’s where you see most of the toxicity.
Government Testing is "Embarassing"
Dr.
Pincetich says that he's "embarassed" that the government is using
inadequate tests regarding the toxicity of Corexit. For example, when I
asked whether he thought the EPA's screening level for Corexit in the
Gulf of 750 parts per million is based on sound science, Dr. Pincetich said no. He pointed me to a 1996 study which found that exposures of less than 20 ppm can adversely affect abalone.
Dr.
Pincetich also noted that the tests being used in the Gulf are not the
standard type of tests used to measure toxicity of long-term chronic
exposure, but are typically only used for initial
screening of effluent from coastal dischargers. There is no scientific
evidence to support using only such a short-term, acute exposure test.
The EPA training manual contains dozens of better testing protocols, and toxicity tests are usually run on 7
different species when there is a screening of unknown toxic chemicals
involved (and even basic national pollution discharge standards
require testing for 3 species), but - in the Gulf - the EPA has only been testing using 2 species.
Dr.
Pincetich has also noted that EPA toxicity testing for Corexit is
woefully inadequate, since EPA testing was only for mortality and
only used a 48- and 96-hour time frame. His doctoral research found that
fish that were alive at 96 hours after exposure to pesticide were
dead at two weeks, so the chemicals were considered non-lethal for the purposes of the test:
Dr.
Pincetich explained that many standardized EPA bioassay toxicity
testing protocols exist to measure growth and reproduction in marine
early life stage organisms, but EPA is just using the cheapest possible
tests. He says that standard tests should be run, and BP should pick up the tab.
Corexit May Delay Recovery of the Gulf for Years ... Or Even Decades
Dr. Pincetich told me that he believes that use of dispersant may -
in certain circumstances - delay recovery of the ecosystem for years.
Indeed, PhD toxicologist Ricki Ott noted in a New York Times Op Ed that dispersants like Corexit can persist in the ocean for decades:
[Dispersants]
can linger in the water for decades, especially when used in deep
water, where low temperatures can inhibit biodegradation.
Some experts have also said that the use of Corexit has prolonged by decades the presence of toxic crude oil, because the dispersant sinks the oil beneath the ocean surface, where it cannot be quickly broken down by sun, waves and microbes.
And the head of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Ecology Department - Terry Hazen - argues that the use of dispersants can delay recovery of ocean ecosystems by decades:
Hazen has more than 30 years experience studying the effects of oil spills. He says the oil will be damaging enough; toxic
dispersants will just make it worse. He points to the 1978 Amoco
Cadiz Spill off the coast of Normandy as an example. He says areas
where dispersants were used still have not fully recovered, while
areas where there was no human intervention are now fine.
As Hazen has noted:
"The
untreated coastal areas were fully recovered within five years of the
Amoco Cadiz spill," says Hazen. "As for the treated areas, ecological
studies show that 30 years later, those areas still have not
recovered."
Admittedly, chemicals other than Corexit were
used in the Amoco Cadiz spill. But the precautionary tale still holds:
chemicals should not be applied to oil spills unless scientists are
positive that they will provide a net long-term benefit.
Disturbingly, Corexit is apparently still being sprayed in the Gulf. See this, this and this.
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Oil rises further as rig catches fire http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-rises-further-as-rig-catches-fire-2010-09-02?tool=1&dist=bigcharts
dead head fed goonzi motto! "protect and serve petro dollars!!"
So now a new gulf oil rig explodes and fane stream media toting it's a regular occurrence for inactive manned rigs to explodes!! You can't miss it all over the news!! With earl, discovery gun man, & now this new oil rig explosion? The eastern union mayhem telegragh 4g riggied gnat ssytem may just shut down for an extended banking holiday!! masters of disater and never lettin a crisis go unused to vermin advantage!!
http://bostonchemicaldata.com/LEAN/
Includes a link to the chemical analysis report. Upshot: sea life samples not contaminated, no markers of Corexit found.
BTW, methane dissolves in water. There's no such thing as "methane rich oil".
It is just so much fun to write science fiction. The original blowout was a result of alien intrusion, certainly something extraterrestial that was disturbed by having the base drilled into down in the cavern under the GoM. Geo Wash simply trolls the links from GodLikeProductions for the source material of the cut and paste jobs. How the fiction it makes it to a supposedly serious financial site is beyond comprehension.
Interesting link to discussion of the corexit measurements:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-great-2-butoxyethanol-by-Bryan-Hamaker-100831-147.htmlAugustus,
I am much releived. All this time I thought you were a retard.
This just in, toxic component of Corexit (Propylene Glycol) found in Morton's TenderQuick. EVERYONE PANIC!!!
http://www.mortonsalt.com/products/meatcuring/tenderquick.html
The rumor is leaking from an exurberant covert enemy of the One World Order group that Obama's the result of a carefully planned diabolical right wing conspiracy. The covert action involves Obama as a right wing mole! The leak is, Obama was indoctrinated sometime as a teenager through the use of sophisticated hypnotherapy and post hypnotic techniques to be 'contradictorially reprogrammed' by retired CIA operatives. His career, relationships, and progress as a rising left wing political star, had all been planned and manipulated. His school records and birth certificate brilliantly hidden with full support of left wing power! The idea was to mole him into the radical elements of the far left. This was the main objective. His personality was 'created' to be engaged in power building and climbing, up the scientology stairway of leftist politics. His unconscious was designed to create a conscious persona, via unconscious methods, to exaggerate leftist 'ideals'. The 'therapist's' ulterior motive was to cause as much damage to the liberal wing of the democrat party as possible. His rise to president assured success. So cunning and brilliant was this plan that radical liberals have been willing to hang on to Obama even as he destroys them. The leak is thought result from one rational over-exuberance of the success of the mission. The whole thing sounds so crazy it's believable. And the one who stepped out of the shadow has stated, "The reality says it all. The falling leftist dominoes are in play."
Who knows what to believe the unrality of Obama or the just as unreal mole theory?
If the full story behind this truth comes out liberals will self destruct as they destroy each other! If the story remains hidden, Obama will continue to destroy the liberal wing of the democrat party. This story is more diabolical than any fiction!
I'm just really dissapointed that the sea floor didn't collapse on itself causing a tsunami followed by a few hundred thousand casualties to boot. Actually, I'm still holding out for it (fingers crossed).
Thanks for keeping on this story.
Dope smoking hippies never come across credible..especially the PHD's:
Pseudo Hippie Dickheads- like this guy.
F____ the red necks in the South. The elite on the East/West Coasts only care for their elite brothers accoss the pond. Great post GW. Also lets hang the drilling engineer on the rig and let the fat ass VPs go on their BS rig tours.
Thanks again, keep us informed.
The stories of Geo Wash have the same credibility quotent as the Dracula tales. There are bats and there was once a Count Dracula. The connection is not information, it is fiction. Geo Wash either cannot determine the difference or is well paid to appear to be a D A with the blog posts.
Augie, you are a fucking troll
Augustus,
What is your educational background? The post quotes people who have at least have a rigorous background in chemistry. What do you base your opinions upon?
The assertion that the reactions with methane laden oil at depth (well over 2,000 psi) will be very different from the reactions at the surface is completely correct. The decision makers from both our government and BP haven't been from the real science standpoint, the "brightest bulbs on the string". Do you remember the first efforts to capture the with what amounted to a large box? What happened? The fact that no one in a decision making position saw in "the mind's eye" the way that the oil methane mix was going to behave. Hydrate formation is well known; several gases can form hydrates with water at high pressure.
http://marine.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/gas-hydrates/title.html
And hydrate formation issue is the most trivial aspect of the chemistry involved in this problem and the responses to it that I can get into this post.
This business of extreme engineering MUST be taken seriously to be successful.
None of this is comic book science.
If you choose to study, there is a lot of good background on the internet for how reactions can be changed by pressure. Research "chemical activity" and "second law of thermodynamics" for an understanding of why.
The mental exercise of struggling with things you don't understand can only make your mind stronger. And, increasingly in these economic times, mind is going to be an important tool.
Funny how Mr. Obama pressed so hard for a Health Care bill only to assist BP with the slow death of a region. I guess it is okay as long as no one knows about it.
oh, the irony. But, who again, is the health care bill helping? Sure it won't be the future GOM victims.
Awesome stuff, GW.
Don't let up on this issue, you're a beacon of light.
hey, come on now. didn't the commander in chief just eat a seafood burrito on the beach and say all is good and safe in the gulf? are you saying he's a two faced lying POS who doesn't give a fuck about the human beings that live and visit the gulf?
i feel that justice will not be served until the great one and his minions are forced to eat GOM seafood for next 30 or 40 years. maybe they will grow a conscience if they don't grow a set of balls.
GW , since you seem to be the only serious player staying on top of this perhaps it would be prudent to pack an equalizer and first aid kit. oh yes, stay away from hotubs and hire a carstarter.
thanks GW. don't stop digging.
Only because someone has to say it...chemical toilet, bitchez. Every movement, from our economic and political circles, on this mess only serves to reinforce the idea that we're continually meddling with or destroying things that we don't understand, and all in the service of an economy based around the internal combustion engine, which is more than a century old. Despite being a big fan, myself, I think it's time to stop supporting something that ruins the air, water, and land and continually props up the miserable businesses that have sprung up around it, which continually use the labor force as nothing more than potential human shields or cannon-fodder every time the issue comes up.
capital punishment for bp.....bp is satan's asshole - and a total and complete piece of shit...
The precautionary tale still holds: chemicals should not be applied to oil spills unless Financial Analysts are positive that they will provide a net long-term benefit.
Thanks for the info GW.
Even utube got quiet. Monkeyfister used to have links for the various bop watchers. All gone. If not for intelhub i would think its over, problem solved and faded into background.
Now its turning out 3 doctors found blood contaminated in coastal residents from oil exposure. Surprised we are not getting more reports from folks getting sick.
Thank you for staying on this. We humans all are family. Those in the south i just havent met yet
You mean there's something happening where new news isn't news ands not reported and old news seems to just vanish, "Phft", into thin air. Articles not retrievable.... vids just not there anymore... Old memories just that, with no possible retrieval of old sources of information?
Revisionist History. Used to be an honorable old-line profession in the Soviet Union.
History don't apply to us, were're Americans.
It's a good thing Obama's soooo much better than that Bush, huh? Obama's delivered on his promise to make government function as transparently as possible. Just like we don't have any more Guantanamo or Patriot Act or . . .
Reminds me of the novel "Zodiac" by Neal Stephenson. Short summary, bioengineered organisms get out, start to convert salt water to PCBs. (The irony of course, is that they were supposed to work in the other direction.) Key story points include fishermen pulling up tainted lobsters.
Yeah, don't touch anything from that area. Just the risk-averse best bet.
Bottom-lurking contaminants means a bad day for everyone involved. Appreciate the story, Mr. Washington.
you know, I got laughed at by a few buddies of mine from that area that said I was crazy for sending them some of your links because they haven't seen any oil...
I reminded them what dispersants do and they still laughed....some people will never get it. The sad part is these guys are huge outdoorsmen and fish the rigs for tuna, wahoo and marlin a good bit. Needless to say, I won't be eating anything they bring back for a loooooong time.
Good work on the reporting, GW. This has withered on the vine in the MSM.
Yes, thanks GW. Very important side of the story to represent.