Why are chemical dispersants used on an oil spill ?
Dispersants are used to minimise the environmental impact of an oil spill. Dispersants do not eliminate the problem of an oil spill but are intended as a means of reducing the overall environmental impact of an oil slick at sea. Oil Spill Dispersant (OSD) use accelerates the weathering and biological breakdown of oil at sea and reduces the impact of oil on sensitive foreshore environments. Oil Spill Dispersants are also highly effective in reducing exposure of sea birds to oil as most sea birds are oiled by slicks on the surface of the sea or in near shore coastal habitats. Undispersed slicks and residual oils are a persistent threat to foreshores, birds, mammals and intertidal communities due to the toxicity of, and contact with oil. Dispersed oil is less “sticky” than undispersed oil, therefore the adhesion and absorption onto surfaces and sediments of dispersed oil is greatly reduced compared with the original oil slick. In a spill incident environmental trade-offs of protection and
