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Comparative toxicity of two oil dispersants to the early life stages of two marine species
Author(s) -
Singer Michael M.,
George Saji,
Benner Diana,
Jacobson Susan,
Tjeerdema Ronald S.,
Sowby Michael L.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620121013
Subject(s) - dispersant , toxicity , abalone , acute toxicity , biology , invertebrate , haliotis discus , environmental chemistry , toxicology , zoology , chemistry , fishery , dispersion (optics) , organic chemistry , physics , optics
Acute, flow‐through, spiked‐exposure toxicity tests were performed on the early life stages of two marine species using two oil dispersants. The species represent two common near‐shore marine taxa: molluscs (red abalone, Haliotis rufescens) and crustaceans (kelp forest mysid, Holmes‐imysis costata) . The dispersants were composed of complex mixtures of anionic and nonionic surfactants and solvents. The toxicity data showed that one dispersant, Slik‐A‐Way, was more toxic than the other, Nokomis® 3, to both species. Median‐effect concentration estimates for the two dispersants were significantly different between species. Slik‐A‐Way median‐effect concentrations ranged from 16.8 to 23.9 initial ppm for Haliotis and 25.9 to 34.6 initial ppm for Holmesimysis , whereas Nokomis 3 median‐effect concentrations ranged from 21.0 to 24.0 initial ppm for Haliotis and from 118.0 to 123.2 initial ppm for Holmesimysis . Differences in toxicity seen in the two dispersants may be due to differences in surfactant formulations.