# Just what the doctor ordered:  EPA tells BP to use less toxic oil dispersants in the Gulf

*Published:* 2010-05-20
*Author:* 

*Richard Denison, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist.*

This just out: The [*Washington Post* is reporting](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/20/AR2010052002179.html?hpid=topnews) that EPA has given BP 24 hours to identify and locate a supply of a less toxic dispersant to be applied to the Gulf oil spill, and to begin using it within an additional 72 hours.

As noted in [my last post](http://blogs.edf.org/nanotechnology/2010/05/17/compounding-the-problem-why-aren%e2%80%99t-we-using-the-safest-and-most-effective-dispersants-in-the-gulf/), EPA has identified numerous alternative dispersants that are both less toxic and more effective than those on which BP has been relying to date — more than 600,000 gallons of which have already been released into Gulf waters. The *Post* also notes that some forms of the initial dispersants, sold by Nalco under the trade name Corexit®, were banned by the British government more than a decade ago.