Results are in for samples taken on 9-16-10 and 9-23-10. Although tarballs were again present on the beaches, no oil compounds were detected above 5ppm.

The 9-16 sample from Blue Mountain Beach was positive for Propylene glycol at 30.6mg/L.

This is well over three times the reporting limit and considered a significant result. Propylene Glycol is one of the components of dispersants. The sample is being further evaluated to determine if other components of Corexit are also present and to help differentiate from other pollutants.

Read more and support the Emerald Coast’s monitoring program here.

Read more about dispersants here.

Will keep you posted on our findings and we continue to test along Florida and Alabama beaches.

Spill’s Effects Underwater

Efforts are under way to keep the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from reaching birds, mammals and critical shoreline habitats, but some marine biologists worry about the effects of the oil slick and the use of chemical dispersants on life underwater.

Read more…

One month and 700,000 gallons later, the EPA decides that Corexit, the dispersant that BP has been pumping into the gulf in massive quantities, is too risky to use.

Wow. It took our lead environmental agency a month to figure this out and then only in response from scientists and politicians who have pointed to less toxic alternatives. We must do better.

In directing BP to select a less toxic dispersant, the Environmental Protection Agency said it was exercising caution because so little is known about the chemicals’ potential impact.

BP has sprayed nearly 700,000 gallons of Corexit dispersants on the surface of the gulf and directly onto the leaking well head a mile underwater. It is by far the largest use of chemicals to break up an oil spill in United States waters to date.

Scientists and politicians have questioned why the E.P.A. is allowing use of the Corexit products when less toxic alternatives are available.

Read more…