Take Action
The Advocate Toolkit
Help Ban Toxic Oil Dispersants
Why do communities need to mobilize to ban dispersants?
- Studies have shown that dispersants mix with oil to form a toxic cocktail that can harm humans and the environment.
- The justifications for dispersant use are based on outdated (mostly lab-based) science.
- Dispersants are allowed for use under the National Contingency Plan (NCP); they are not mandated.
- All coastal states and territories have pre-authorized dispersants, meaning they can be used in unlimited quantities without going through an approval process and without public consent.
- Legal action from nonprofits like ALERT is not enough. Real people must get involved in defending their backyard by engaging with local councils to pass resolutions demanding that their state/Tribe revoke and/or ban dispersant use – and pressure the federal government to do the same.

A dolphin on the beach in the Gulf Coast in the months following the BP oil disaster. Some scientists suspect that the use of oil dispersants contributed to widespread and lasting damage to marine life and ecosystems in the area.

After the BP oil spill, many Gulf Coast residents experienced severe skin problems along with life threatening health issues, following the BP oil spill,. Unprecedented amounts of chemical dispersants were used in an effort to "clean up" the BP oil spill, but studies have shown that dispersants can make the oil more dangerous.
Toxic Trespass Training Toolkit
Learn How to Identify and Prevent Chemical Illness
Learn how to:


Meet the creators of this Training Program!