WKRG in Mobile, AL did their own independent water sampling along Gulf Shores and Orange Beach areas. You have to watch the video below to believe what they found and what happened to one of their samples (complete summary follows). Remember in Gulf Beaches: Public Health At Risk how we told you that you (and especially your children) should not be swimming in the water?  See why no one should be on the sand either!

A quick overview of toxicity. This will help put the numbers in the video in perspective. By most scientists we found, the level considered toxic for oil is 11ppm. BP’s oil dispersant Corexit is known to be toxic at 2.61ppm, making it one of the most toxic dispersants on EPA’s list, and is known to make the oil much more toxic. Here is a fantastic explanation of toxicity levels related to oil and dispersants. An excerpt:

Of course, I realize, that comparing lethal concentrations is not straightforward. The results differ by species and by time as well as by amount of poison, The EPA numbers for Corexit 9500 (the formula used most heavily by BP) show that at 2.62 ppm, the dispersant kills half the silver fish in 96 hours/ four days. At a slightly higher concentration – 3.4 ppm – the compound kills half the little shrimp in two days.

This suggests that crude oil is less acutely poisonous than chemical dispersants. But here’s the really interesting finding in that terrific little study. Adding a dispersant – specifically Corexit 9500 – made the oil more poisonous. A lot more poisonous.

In this LSU thesis we see a more detailed look at the toxicity levels of South Louisiana Crude (SLC):

The mean 96-h HC LC50 of SLC and ANSC were 6.49 ppm and 6.59 ppm for white shrimp and 8.30 ppm and 7.67 ppm for Gulf killifish, respectively.

TRANSLATION: After 96 hours, South Louisiana Crude (SLC) killed half the shrimp in this LSU study, at a concentration of just 6.59ppm. That’s the level for SLC alone, BEFORE Corexit is added.

From a conservative standpoint we are safe to start with 11ppm for the toxic level of oil alone. However, we all know what’s in the Gulf of Mexico is NOT just oil, but rather oil plus a couple million gallons of Corexit. Again I maintain (even if no one else will say it) beaches should be closed in the interest of public health and safety, until the oil is cleaned up and thorough testing has been conducted and all chemicals in oil AND Corexit are found to be well below the toxic levels.


WKRG.com News

SUMMARY OF OIL TESTING RESULTS:

  1. Katrina Key: water sample – 16ppm
  2. Orange Beach: beach water, near shore – 29ppm
  3. Gulf Shores: sand collected beneath a group of kids playing – 51ppm
  4. Gulf Shores: beach water, near shore – 66ppm
  5. Gulf Shores: beach sand – 211 ppm
  6. Orange Beach: water from a sand hole where kids were playing – 221ppm
  7. Dauphin Island Marina: water sample – Not Obtainable: Sample Exploded. Chemist hypothesized due to: ethanol, methane or Corexit