Long-term effects of oil dispersants on intertidal benthic invertebrates

Abstract

Field studies directed towards evaluating the toxicity of dispersant-treated and untreated fresh and weathered Maui ‘D-sand’ condensate to intertidal invertebrates were conducted at Anawhata, on the west coast of North Island of New Zealand. Observations were concentrated on the barnacles Chamaesipho columna and Epopella plicata and the bivales Xenostrobus pulex and Perna canaliculus. The field studies continued for 83 days after treatment. Two dispersants were tested, Shell SD LTD and BP1100 WD (Synperonic OSD 20).