Comparative toxicity of five dispersants to coral larvae.

ABSTRACT: Oil spill responders require information on the absolute and relative toxicities of chemical dispersants to relevant receptor species to assess their use in spill response. However, little toxicity data are available for tropical marine species including reef-building corals. In this study, we experimentally assessed the sub-lethal toxicity of five dispersants to larvae of the coral Acropora millepora over three short exposure periods (2, 6 and 24 h) reflecting real-world spill response scenario durations. Inhibition of larval settlement increased rapidly between 2 and 6 h, and was highest at 24 h: EC₅₀ Corexit EC9500A = 4.0 mg l^-1; Ardrox 6120 = 4.0 mg l^-1; Slickgone LTSW = 2.6 mg L^-1; Slickgone NS = 11.1 mg L^-1 and Finasol OSR52 = 3.

SUBMITTER: Negri AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5812988 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature