http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-05-10-oil-rig-blast_N.htm***************
BP sprays more chemicals into main Gulf oil leak
ON THE GULF OF MEXICO (AP) — A remote-controlled submarine shot a chemical dispersant into the maw of a massive undersea oil leak Monday, further evidence that authorities expect the gusher to keep erupting into the Gulf of Mexico for weeks or more.
Crews using the deep-sea robot attempted to thin the oil which is rushing up from the seabed at a pace of about 210,000 gallons (795,000 liters) per day after getting approval from the Environmental Protection Agency, BP spokesman Mark Proegler told The Associated Press.
The agency had halted two previous rounds of the dispersant to test its potential impact on the environment, and approved a third round of spraying that began early Monday, Proegler said. The EPA said in a statment the effects of the chemicals were still widely unknown
http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/05/toxic-soup-gulfIs the BP Clean-Up Creating A Toxic Soup in the Gulf?
— By Kate Sheppard
| Mon May. 10, 2010 9:32 AM PDT
As part of the effort to mitigate the more than 3 million gallons of oil that have been released into the Gulf of Mexico, BP is using chemical dispersants to break down the oil and prevent it from hitting land. But the exact make-up of those chemical compounds is unknown, and some environmentalists believe that BP's solution might actually be worse than the problem.
The chemical compounds break down the oil into smaller globs, causing it to sink and biodegrade faster. In the past week, more information has been released out about what BP and the Coast Guard are dumping into the Gulf. And while it's a relief to have some information, what we're hearing is less than reassuring. The combination of oil and chemicals, say critics, is creating a "toxic soup" in the Gulf.
The Deepwater Horizon Joint Information Center, the unified command office set up to deal with the spill, reports that 308,885 gallons of dispersant have been spread over the spill site as of Sunday. The two main chemicals being used in the clean-up effort are Corexit 9500 and Corexit(R) EC9527A. BP has reportedly ordered 15 million gallons of Corexit (and says it has stockpiled a third of the world's supply of dispersants).
While BP won't disclose the make-up of these compounds, arguing that this is proprietary information, the Coast Guard has posted the safety data sheets for both the 9500 and (R) EC9527A varieties online. And the documents raise serious questions about the environmental impact of the chemicals being used to clean up the spill.
The compounds contain 2-butoxyethanol, which can cause headaches, vomiting and reproductive problems at high doses. The "Human Health Hazards" section of the document on (R) EC9527A notes:
-Can cause moderate irritation. Harmful if absorbed through skin.
-May be harmful if swallowed. May cause liver and kidney effects and/or damage. There may be irritation to the gastro-intestinal tract.
-Excessive exposure may cause central nervous system effects, nausea, vomiting, anesthetic or narcotic effects.
-Repeated or excessive exposure to butoxyethanol may cause injury to red blood cells (hemolysis), kidney or the liver.
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