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In 2011 the EPA released an aggregate list of all the chemicals found in oil dispersant products that the agency has approved for use in the event of an oil spill. Toxipedia conducted research on the potential impacts of these 57 chemicals on human health and the environment. Below is a chart that summarizes the findings.
The last column of the chart links to oil dispersant products that the specific chemical is found in. Many of the manufacturers of oil dispersant products have not disclosed the chemicals found in their product. The term "Other" in this column designates that this chemical could possibly be in a product whose chemical ingredients have yet to be released.
See a word, phrase, or abbreviation that you don't recognize. Head to the Oil Dispersant Glossary for definitions.
Information highlighted in GREEN indicates potential effects of high concern to human health.
Information highlighted in BLUE indicated potential effects of high concern to the marine environment.
Chemical |
Potential Human Health Impacts |
Potential Marine Environment Impacts |
Oil Dispersant Product |
|---|---|---|---|
1,2- Propanediol |
• Listed as a suspected immunotoxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant, and skin and sense organ toxicant (EDF) |
• Not likely to exist in large amounts in the air (ASTDR) |
OTHER |
1-Dodecanamine, N,N - dimethyl - , N-oxide |
• Very destructive of mucous membranes. (MSDS) |
• Not expected to absorb to suspended solids or sediments (HSDB) |
OTHER |
1 - Propanaminium, 3 - amino - N - (carboxymethyl) - N,N - dimethyl -, N-coco acyl derivs., inner salts |
• Listed as a suspected immunotixcant and skin or sense organ toxicant (EDF) |
ANIMAL STUDIES |
OTHER |
2(3H)-Benzothiazolethione, sodium salt (1:1) |
• Its parent chemical is listed as a possible carcinogen by US EPA (PANNA) |
• Moderate acute toxicity to fish (PANNA) |
OTHER |
2-Furanmethanol, tetrahydro- |
• Severe eye irritant (HSDB) |
• Readily Biodegradable (HSDB) |
OTHER |
2 - Propanol, 1 -(2 - butoxy - 1 - methylethoxy) - |
• Listed it as a suspected neurotoxicant. (EDF) |
ANIMAL STUDIES |
Corexit 9500 |
2 - Propenoic acid, 2 - methyl - , 1,1' - (1,2 - ethanediyl) ester, polymer with 2 - propen - 1 - yl 2 - methyl - 2 - propenoate |
... |
... |
OTHER |
2- Pyrrolidinone, 1-methyl- |
• Listed as a reproductive toxin. (Haz-map) |
• Moderate acute toxicity to zooplankton (PANNA) |
OTHER |
9- Octadecenoic acid (9Z)- |
• Skin and eye irritant (Haz-map) |
• Expected to absorb to suspended solids or sediment (HSDB) |
OTHER |
9- Octadecenoic acid (9Z) -, monoester with 1,2 - propanediol |
• Not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful |
• Suspected to be an environmental toxin |
OTHER |
Alcohols, C12-14-secondary, ethoxylated |
... |
... |
DISPERSIT SPC 1000 |
Alcohols, C12-16, ethoxylated |
• Inhalation may be harmful (NOAA) |
• Very toxic to aquatic organisms (NOAA) |
OTHER |
Alcohols, C9-11, ethoxylated |
• Severely irritating to eyes. Causes burning sensation, redness, swelling, and/or blurred vision (MSDS) |
• Moderate acute toxicity to fish (PANNA) |
OTHER |
Alkanes, C14-30 |
... |
... |
MARE CLEAN 200 |
Amides, coco, N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl) |
• Listed as a likely carcinogen (HSDB) |
• In a study on water fleas the EC50 was reached at 3.3mg/L. Effects |
DISPERSIT SPC 1000 |
Amides, tall oil, fatty N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl) |
• In a study on mice, sensory and pulmonary irritation were observed at low |
... |
OTHER |
Amines, tallow alkyl, ethoxylated |
... |
• Moderate acute toxicity to fish (PANNA) |
DISPERSIT SPC 1000 |
• Danger of cumulative effects. Repeated exposure may cause increased incidences of negative effects. (MSDS 1) |
• In an MSDS for a product that contained this chemical, it states that |
OTHER |
|
Benzenemethanol |
• Listed as a suspected liver toxicant, neurotoxicant, and immunotoxicant (EDF) |
• Listed as toxic to aquatic organisms (NIOSH) |
OTHER |
Benzenesulfonic acid, (1 - methylethyl) -, sodium salt (1:1) |
... |
... |
OTHER |
Benzenesulfonic acid, C10-16-alkyl derivs. |
ANIMAL STUDIES |
ANIMAL STUDIES |
OTHER |
Benzenesulfonic acid, dimethyl-, sodium salt (1:1) |
• Low toxicity (HSDB) |
ANIMAL STUDIES |
OTHER |
Benzenesulfonic acid, dodecyl- |
• Exposure to chemical at levels toxic to adult females may damage the fetus (NJ Fsheet) |
• Toxic to aquatic organisms (NIOSH) |
OTHER |
Benzenesulfonic acid, dodecyl-, compd. with 2-propanamine (1:1) |
• Ingestion causes mild irritation of mouth and stomach (NOAA) |
• In a study on minnows, LC50 was 22mg/L (EPA) |
OTHER |
beta-Cyclodextrin |
• May cause allergic skin reaction (MSDS2) |
• May cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment (MSDS2) |
OTHER |
Butanedioic acid, sulfo-, 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester, sodium salt |
• Listed as a suspected neurotoxicant (EDF) |
• Possibility of absorbing to sediment (HSDB) |
Corexit 9500 |
Cyclohexene, 1 - methyl - 4 - (1 - methylethenyl) -, (4R) - |
• Suspected liver toxicant, kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant, and immunotoxicant (EDF) |
• High potential of bioaccumulating (HSDB) |
OTHER |
D - Glucopyranose, oligomeric, C10 - 16 - alkyl glycosides |
... |
... |
OTHER |
Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light |
• Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans (MSDS) |
• Listed as harmful to aquatic organisms (NIOSH) |
Corexit 9500 |
Ethanol, 2 - (2 - butoxyethoxy) - |
• Listed as a suspected neurotoxin, kidney toxin, cardiovascular/blood toxin, and reproductive toxin (Haz-map) |
• Not expected to absorb to suspended solids or sediments (HSDB) |
OTHER |
Ethanol, 2,2',2''- nitrilotris - |
• Exposure has been associated with asthma (haz-map) |
• Low seawater biodegradability may create long-term chronic effects to aquatic organisms (Libralato et al.) |
OTHER |
Ethanol, 2,2'- iminobis - |
• Exposure associated with asthma (Haz-map) |
• Low biodegradability in seawater might promote potential long-term toxicity effects towards aquatic organisms. (Libralato et al.) |
OTHER |
Ethanol, 2- amino - |
• Exposure is associated with asthma (haz-map) |
• Not expected to absorb to suspended solids or sediment (HSDB) |
OTHER |
Ethanol, 2-butoxy- |
• Listed as a possible carcinogen. Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans. (HSDB) |
• Potential to biodegrade rapidly in water (HSDB) |
Corexit 9527 |
Ethoxylated dodecanol |
• Listed as moderately toxic (HSDB) |
... |
OTHER |
Glycine, N,N'- 1,2- ethanediylbisN-(carboxymethyl)-, sodium salt (1:4) |
• When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides and sodium oxides (HSDB) |
• Listed as not acutely toxic to fish and zooplankton (PANNA) |
OTHER |
Imidazolium compounds, 1 - 2 - (2-carboxyethoxy)ethyl - 1(or 3) - (2-carboxyethyl) - 4,5 - dihydro - 2 - norcoco |
... |
... |
OTHER |
Naphthalenesulfonic acid, methyl-, sodium salt (1:1) |
... |
... |
OTHER |
Poly(oxy - 1,2 - ethanediyl), .alpha. - (4 - nonylphenyl) - .omega. - hydroxy -, branched |
• Exposure to the eye can cause severe eye irritation and conjunctivitis with possible chemical burns (MSDS) |
• LC50 for water fleas is 21.4mg/L after a 48 hour exposure |
OTHER |
Poly(oxy - 1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha. - (9Z) - 9 - octadecen - 1 - yl - .omega. - hydroxy - |
• May contain traces of ethylene oxide, a suspected carcinogen. No further information available. (MSDS) |
... |
OTHER |
Poly(oxy - 1,2 - ethanediyl), .alpha. - (nonylphenyl) - .omega. - hydroxy - |
• Suspected endocrine toxicant (EDF) |
• Expected to absorb to suspended solids or sediment (HSDB) |
OTHER |
Poly(oxy - 1,2 - ethanediyl), .alpha. - (9Z) - 1 - oxo - 9 - octadecen - 1 - yl - .omega. - (9Z) - 1 - oxo - 9 - octadecen - 1 - yl oxy - |
• Eye, skin, and digestive tract irritant (MSDS2) |
ANIMAL STUDIES |
MARE CLEAN 200 |
Poly(oxy - 1,2 - ethanediyl), .alpha.- (9Z)- 1 - oxo - 9 - octadecen - 1 - yl - .omega.- hydroxy- |
... |
... |
|
Poly(oxy - 1,2 - ethanediyl), .alpha. - hydro - .omega. - (9Z) - 1 - oxo - 9 - octadecen - 1 - yl]oxy] -, ether with D-glucitol (6:1) |
... |
... |
OTHER |
Poly(oxy - 1,2 - ethanediyl), .alpha. - hydro - .omega. - hydroxy - , ether with 1,2,3 -propanetriol |
... |
... |
MARE CLEAN 200 |
Poly(oxy - 1,2 - ethanediyl), .alpha. - hydro - .omega. - hydroxy - , mono - C8 - 10 - alkyl ethers, phosphates |
... |
... |
OTHER |
Poly(oxy - 1,2 - ethanediyl), .alpha. - undecyl - .omega.- hydroxy - |
... |
... |
OTHER |
Potassium hydroxide (K(OH)) |
• Ingestion can cause severe pain, vomiting, diarrhea, shock, collapse (NIOSH) |
• This substance may be hazardous to the aquatic environment (NIOSH) |
OTHER |
Propanol, 1(or 2) - (2-methoxymethylethoxy) - |
• Listed as a suspected reproductive toxin, kidney toxin, and potential CNS toxin (Haz-map) |
• Not expected to absorb to suspended solids or sediment (HSDB) |
|
Silicic acid, potassium salt |
ANIMAL STUDIES |
• High concentrations can raise alkalinity of water and have negative impacts on fish and other aquatic life (IUCLID) |
OTHER |
Sodium hydroxide (Na(OH)) |
• Listed as a suspected respiratory toxicant (EDF) |
• In fish toxicity tests, burns occurred on external gills, lots of mucous formed, and fish dies from respiratory organ destruction (IUCLID) |
OTHER |
Sorbitan, mono-(9Z)-9-octadecenoate |
• Occupational exposure has been recorded to cause contact eczema in one case (HSDB) |
• Aquatic vertebrates, in this particular study, rainbow trout, experienced a 0% mortality rate after a 4 day exposure to a concentration of 1000mg/liter of water. (EPA) |
Corexit 9500 |
Sorbitan, mono - (9Z) - 9 - octadecenoate, poly(oxy - 1,2 - ethanediyl) derivs. |
• Exposure may cause chemical pneumonitis (inflammation of lungs and difficulty breathing) and intestinal obstruction (NOAA) |
... |
Corexit 9500 |
Sorbitan, tri - (9Z) - 9 - octadecenoate |
• In studies done on mice, no mortalities or clinical signs were observed (EPA) |
• In a study on water fleas no adverse effects were experienced at levels up to 1000 mg/L (EPA) |
OTHER |
Sorbitan, tri -(9Z) - 9 - octadecenoate, poly(oxy - 1,2 - ethanediyl) derivs. |
• Slightly hazardous in case of ingestion or inhalation (MSDS) |
... |
|
Sulfonic acids, petroleum, sodium salts |
• Irritant to eyes and skin. Causes redness, pain. (NIOSH) |
• In a study on algae, no impacts were seen up to 100mg/L, which is the highest concentration tested (EPA) |
OTHER |
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