Dispersants used to break up crude leaking from a ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well are not likely to accumulate in seafood and affect humans, the US Food and DrugAdministration said.In a letter released Friday addressing concerns raised by a US lawmaker, the regulatory body said it was highly unlikely that the chemicals used to break up spilled crude into small particles would enter the food chain.
How did they determine that, do you suppose?
BioaccumulationBioaccumulation is the process by which the chemical concentration in an aquatic organism achieves a level that exceeds that in the water, as a result of chemical uptake through all possible routes of exposure. Biomagnification refers to the concentration of a chemical to a level that exceeds that resulting from its diet. Bioaccumulation includes both biomagnification and bioconcentration. In general, chemicals that have the potential to bioconcentrate also have the potential to bioaccumulate.
From the MSDS:
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
PRODUCT
COREXIT® 9500ENVIRONMENTAL PRECAUTIONS :
Do not contaminate surface water.OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS :
Exposure guidelines have not been established for this product.BIOACCUMULATION POTENTIAL
Component substances have a potential to bioconcentrate.
Did you read that last bit? Would someone like to present The FDA with a MSDS for Corexit?
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. [...] [The] ecological effect of mixing the dispersants with oil is unknown, as is the toxicity of the breakdown products of the dispersant.[...]
According to the EPA, Corexit is more toxic than dispersants made by several competitors and less effective in handling southern Louisiana crude. 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.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
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