The role of dispersants in oil spill remediation : fundamental concepts, rationale for use, fate, and transport issues

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Date
2016-09Author
John, Vijay
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Arnosti, Carol
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Field, Jennifer
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Kujawinski, Elizabeth B.
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McCormick, Alon
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https://hdl.handle.net/1912/8445As published
https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2016.75DOI
10.5670/oceanog.2016.75Abstract
Offering a scientific perspective, this paper provides a rationale for the use of dispersants in oil spill remediation by discussing their formulations and modes of action and connecting their physics and chemistry to a their environmental fates and impacts. With the first use of dispersants at the source of the oil release during the Deepwater Horizon incident, there is a new great need for understanding the efficiency and the environmental impacts of their use. The paper concludes with some cautionary recommendations on dispersant research.