Oil Dispersants From Gulf Spill Response Break Down Slowly in Cold Water, EPA Finds

摘要

Oil dispersants used in the Deepwater Horizon cleanup process break down much more slowly in colder water, according to a study from the Environmental Protection Agency. The research will help the agency as it considers how to use dispersants in responses to oil spills in an environmentally protective way, according to the study. Scientists evaluated how quickly the dispersants broke down at 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit), which approximates temperature levels at the wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico, and at 25 C (77 F), which approximates surface water temperatures.