WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says a new study shows that dispersants used to break up oil in the Gulf of Mexico are no more toxic to aquatic life than oil alone.
The Environmental Protection Agency says the tests also show that when mixed with oil, the dispersant being used in the Gulf, Corexit 9500A, is no more nor less toxic than oil mixtures with other available chemicals that could be used as an alternative.
The test results were released Monday as the Obama administration defended itself against assertions that officials allowed oil giant BP to use excessive amounts of chemical dispersants whose threat to sea life remains unknown.
Congressional investigators say the Coast Guard routinely approved BP requests to use large amounts of Corexit despite federal directives to use it sparingly.
