§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests have been carried out to simulate toxicity in beach and rocky foreshore cleaning for each of the oil dispersants(a) Dispolene 345, (b) Dasic Slickgone LTSW and (c) BP Enersperse 1037; what results were obtained; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryBefore an oil dispersant is approved for use in United Kingdom waters it is required to meet stringent standards for efficacy, viscosity, storage stability and toxicity. Tests are carried out by the Warren Spring Laboratory and this Ministry's directorate of fisheries research.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to state that the Enersperse dispersant used in the Shetlands incident was Enersperse 1583, and not, as previously indicated, Enersperse 1037.
The test for toxicity in sea water and beach conditions compares a suspension of oil in sea water with a similar suspension to which the candidate dispersant has been added. To pass, the suspension containing the dispersant must be no more toxic than that containing oil and sea water alone. Dispolene 34S, Dasic Slickgone LTSW and Enersperse 1583 all passed this test.
The test for toxicity in rocky shore conditions similarly involves a comparative assessment of the toxicity of the oil and of the dispersant. Enersperse 1583 passed this test. Dispolene 34S did not. Slickgone LTSW was not proposed for use on rocky shores and was accordingly not subject to the test.
Further technical details of our toxicity testing procedures are given in fisheries research technical report No. 39, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.