So far, about 785,000 gallons of Corxeit has been used on the surface
and underwater – deemed by BP (and BP alone) as the “best and most
appropriate choice” for breaking up the oil. The oil company told the
EPA that it would continue to use it despite demands that it find a
less poisonous alternative.

Corexit is banned for use on oil spills in Britain because of its high
toxicity, but was on the EPA’s “approved” list before the Gulf of
Mexico spill. However, the EPA said that its use on such a scale and
at such depth had never been tested, and last night ordered BP to cut
back its use “significantly”.