[PDF] Using Oil Spill Dispersants on the Sea National Research Council; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems; Marine Board; Committee on Effectiveness of Oil Spill Dispersants

While major oil spills are rare, oil slicks can have disastrous environmental and economic consequences. This book summarizes research on the use of chemical dispersants: their effectiveness and limitations and the results of using them in different spill situations. Based on laboratory and field research as well as on actual case histories, this book contains a clear-cut set of recommendations for action, planning, and research. Of special interest is the chapter on the biological effects of oil itself and of oil treated with chemical dispersants.