Effects of a chemical dispersant and crude oil on breeding ducks

Albers, Peter H.; Gay, Martha L.

doi:10.1007/bf01605603

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…In addition to potential taxa differences in toxicity, comparisons between topical doses in avian eggs, where the amount of chemical that penetrates the eggshell and enters the embryo is likely to be only a fraction of the external dose, and aquatic exposures with known concentrations are difficult. Oil, like Corexit 9500, (Albers 1979) and applied via transfer from the mother during incubation (Albers and Gay 1982), have been performed. The toxicity of the oil:Corexit 9527 mixture when transferred from maternal plumage was greater than Corexit 9527 alone, but less than crude oil alone.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embryotoxicity of Corexit 9500 in mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

2011

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Embryotoxicity of the oil dispersant Corexit 9500 was examined using fertilized mallard duck eggs. Corexit 9500 was topically applied below the air cell to eggs in volumes ranging from 0 to 100 μL on day 3 of incubation. The highest incidence of mortality occurred at developmental stage 4, one day post-Corexit 9500 application. Hatching success was significantly decreased among eggs treated with ≥ 20 μL of Corexit 9500 as compared to controls (P ≤ 0.047). No egg treated with ≥ 40 μL successfully hatched. The application volume resulting in 50% mortality (corrected for control survival) was determined to be 15.5 μL. Developmental stage at embryo death was also significantly decreased compared to controls in eggs exposed to 40 μL (P = 0.0042) and above.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embryotoxicity of Corexit 9500 in mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

2011

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“…Aqueous concentrations of DOSS that may be harmful to marine life have been established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; however, the toxicity of DOSS in solid-matrix environments such as sediments or sand patties is not known. Only a few studies concerning the toxicity of both oil and dispersant exist, − yet understanding the toxicity of oil and dispersant mixtures in sediments and sands is critical as it has the potential to affect sand- and sediment-dwelling fauna. Oil-soaked sand patties continue to wash up along Gulf coast beaches and, unless recovered, may constitute a persistent contamination of oil and dispersant in these environments.…”

Section: Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-Term Persistence of Dispersants following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

White

Lyons

Harrison

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett.

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During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, 1.84 M gallons of chemical dispersant was applied to oil released in the subsurface and to oil slicks at the surface. We used liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to quantify the anionic surfactant DOSS (dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate) in samples collected from environments known to contain oil persisting from the DWH oil spill. DOSS was found to persist in variable quantities in deep-sea coral communities (6−9000 ng/g) 6 months after the spill and on Gulf of Mexico beaches (1−260 ng/g) 26−45 months after the spill. These results indicate that the applied dispersant, which was thought to undergo rapid degradation in the water column, remains associated with oil in the environment and can persist for ∼4 years.

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“…Birds and mammals were studied only after exposure to Corexit 9527 (21–23), with no mortality data provided. Considering birds, Corexit 9527 had no effect on hatchability in mallards but did cause temporary motor coordination loss and temporary nervous system disorder (21, 22). In mammals, Corexit 9527 was lethal to rats (no amount was provided).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Resistance to bacterial challenge ( Pasteurella multocida ) was significantly lowered in mallards receiving 4.0 mL/kg of a 50:1 Bunker C fuel oil/Corexit mixture daily for 28 days. Albers and Gay (22) studied the effect of exposure to Corexit 9527 and crude oil sprayed with Corexit on breeding mallard ducks. Exposure to the dispersant for 48 h did not affect mallard hatchability.…”

Section: Nalco-manufactured Dispersantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the toxicity of chemical dispersants

Wise

2011

Reviews on Environmental Health

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Chemical dispersants are a mixture of various surfactants and solvents. Most dispersants are proprietary, and the complete composition is not often public knowledge. Chemical dispersants used for the cleanup and containment of crude oil toxicity became a major concern after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. During the crisis, millions of liters of chemical dispersants (Corexit 9527 and 9500) were used – the largest known application of dispersants in the field. As of February 2011, 38 peer-reviewed articles were available on the toxicity of 35 different chemical dispersants. Nalco, BP, Shell, and Total Special Fluids manufacture a variety of chemical dispersants. Most notably, Nalco manufactures Corexit 9527 and 9500, and 19 miscellaneous dispersants are manufactured by others. Most studies examined the lethality of the dispersants. Several nonlethal end points were considered, including the effect on predator/prey recognition, enzyme activity changes, effects on hatchability, and the threshold for bradycardia. The animals studied included Daphnia (small planktonic crustaceans), anemones, corals, crustaceans, starfish, mollusks, fish, birds, and rats. Studies in birds and mammals are distinctly lacking. The variety of chemical dispersants, the variability in test methods, and the lack of distinct species overlap between studies make it difficult to compare and deduce which dispersant is most toxic and which is least. Here, we offer some attempt at comparing Corexit 9527 and 9500 (because these have had the largest field application), but significantly more research is needed before clear conclusions can be drawn.

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Effects of a chemical dispersant and crude oil on breeding ducks

Cited by 14 publications

References 9 publications

Embryotoxicity of Corexit 9500 in mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Embryotoxicity of Corexit 9500 in mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Long-Term Persistence of Dispersants following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

A review of the toxicity of chemical dispersants

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