STANDARD DISPERSANT EFFECTIVENESS AND TOXICITY TESTS

A brief history of the development of the Standard EPA Dispersant Effectiveness and Toxicity tests is outlined. The standard tests are presented and discussed. An analysis of variance is performed on the data developed by three independent laboratories in order to determine the reproducibility of standard test procedures. In the standard effectiveness test, oil is applied to the water surface in a cylindrical tank. Dispersant is applied in a fine stream and then mixing energy is supplied by a pressurized water stream. The tank contents are recirculated after which samples are withdrawn for extraction and spectrophotometric analysis. The standard toxicity test involves exposing three species (Pimphales promelas, Fundulus heteroclitus, and Artemia salina) to dispersant and oil/dispersant mixtures. From these a curve relating organism survival to material concentrations is developed to determine median tolerance limits. Separate discussion sections include the statistical analyses of "testing the test" results for reproducibility and the rationale for selecting the test procedures as presented.

• Corporate Authors:

  Environmental Protection Agency

  Edison Water Quality Research Laboratory
  Edison, NJ  United States  08817
• Authors:
  • McCarthy Jr, L T
  • Wilder, I
  • Dorrler, J S
• Publication Date: 1973-5

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 57 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bioassay; Dispersers; Measurement; Oil spill cleanup; Pollutants; Toxicity
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil dispersant evaluation; Toxic pollutant measurement
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00072735
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
• Report/Paper Numbers: EPA-R2-73-201 Tech Sers.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 31 1974 12:00AM