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RESPONSES OF EMBRYONIC AND LARVAL INLAND SILVERSIDE, MENIDIA BERYLLINA TO NO. 2 FUEL OIL AND OIL DISPERSANTS IN SEA WATER
Citation:
Middaugh, D. AND D. Whiting. RESPONSES OF EMBRYONIC AND LARVAL INLAND SILVERSIDE, MENIDIA BERYLLINA TO NO. 2 FUEL OIL AND OIL DISPERSANTS IN SEA WATER. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-95/573.
Description:
The Inland silverside, Menidia beryllina, is a numerically abundant component of Gulf of Mexico estuaries and bays and serves as a forage fish formany commercially valuable species such as the Striped bass, Morone saxatilis. ecause the inland silverside spawns in shallow nearshore waters, it is especially vulnerable to oil spills. n this study, embryonic inland silversides were used to determine the toxicity of No. 2 Fuel oil and two dispersants (Corexit 7664 and 9527). o. 2 Fuel oil and each dispersant were tested singly and in combination (at recommended application rates). he water soluble fraction (WSF) of No. 2 Fuel oil (9.3-9.4 mg total hydrocarbons/L) was only toxic or teratogenic at the 100% concentration. orexit 7664 was toxic at 10 and 100% of the recommended application rate. n contrast, Corexit 9527 was non toxic at 100% of the recommended application rate. owever, No. 2 Fuel oil + Corexit 7664 (WSF hydrocarbons 41-46 mg/L) resulted in toxic or teratogenic responses at 1, 10, and 100% concentrations. n tests with No. 2 Fuel oil + Corexit 9527 (WSF hydrocarbons 46-53 mg/L) the 10 and 100% concentrations resulted in toxic or teratogenic responses. hese results indicate that use of dispersants in shallow estuaries such as those prevalent along the Gulf of Mexico may exacerbate environmental damage resulting from oil spills.