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WAF Preparation and Exposure Perspectives
Citation:
Barron, M. WAF Preparation and Exposure Perspectives. Presented at Modernizing Chemical Response to Oil Spills: Ecological Effects Research Forum (CROSERF) Aquatic Toxicity Testing Protocols, Pensacola Beach, Florida, March 02, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this presentation is to present ecotoxcological perspectives on preparing water accommodated fractions (WAF) of oil used in aquatic toxicity testing of petroleum and water mixtures. WAF are mixtures of oil and water that are used to create the test solutions used in toxicity testing of oil and oil spill response agents. The impact of the presentation is that it will be given to a workgroup on international subject matter experts on WAF with the purpose of developing a standard WAF preparation method. Standardization of WAF will provide for more consistent toxicity tests globally, creating more reproducible test data, and ultimately improving the hazard assessment of oil and spill agents to protect public health and the environment.
Description:
The presentation summarizes perspectives on developing and standardizing water accommodated fractions (WAF) of oil that are used in toxicity testing and hazard assessment of petroleum and agents used in oil spill response. The presentation includes a summary of EPA WAF and analytical chemistry procedures, perspectives on toxicity testing, and EPA research on particle size distributions, chemistry, and toxicity of different WAF preparation methods.