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BP has used the chemical called "[[Corexit" ]] as part of what it calls an effort to "disperse" the oil.<ref>David Gura, [http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/05/epa_administrator_defends_admi.html "EPA Administrator Defends Response To Oil Spill, Use Of Dispersants,"] ''NPR'', May 25, 2010.</ref> Dispersants are chemical products used to clean and control oil spills, often misleadingly analogized to dish soap because it works in a similar way; dispersants, like dishwashing liquid, bonds to the oil molecules, which is then diluted in the water.<ref>None cited, [http://anotec.net/site/2010/05/26/oil-dispersant-expert-testimony-what-the-officials-and-experts-are-saying/ "OIL DISPERSANT EXPERT TESTIMONY WHAT THE OFFICIALS AND EXPERTS ARE SAYING,"] ''Anotec''.</ref> However, dispersants are not anywhere near harmless as dish soap; there is little knowledge of the side-effects of using dispersants.<ref>Leslie Kaufman and Elisabeth Rosenthal, [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/science/earth/28workers.html?scp=3&sq=Corexit%20BP%20Oil%20Spill&st=cse "Worry About Dispersant Rises as Men in Work Crew Complain of Health Problems,"] ''New York Times'', May 26, 2010.</ref> Dispersants have also never been used to the extent used by BP in the Gulf of Mexico, reaching record levels that has resulted in over 700,000 gallons of the chemical dumped into the water.<ref>Leslie Kaufman and Elisabeth Rosenthal, [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/science/earth/28workers.html?scp=3&sq=Corexit%20BP%20Oil%20Spill&st=cse "Worry About Dispersant Rises as Men in Work Crew Complain of Health Problems,"] ''New York Times'', May 26, 2010.</ref>

Oil dispersal means the oil is neither eliminated nor reduced in toxicity. <ref>John Taylor, [http://www.protecttheocean.com/gulf-oil-spill-bp/ "Gulf Oil Spill: BP Trying To Hide Millions of Gallons of Toxic Oil?,"] ''Protect the Ocean'', March 3, 2010.</ref> Dispersing the oil renders it impossible to trap, vacuum, or soak up along the shoreline, meaning <i>both</i> the oil and the chemical dispersant will spread into the ocean. <iref>IdJohn Taylor, [http://www.protecttheocean.com/gulf-oil-spill-bp/ "Gulf Oil Spill: BP Trying To Hide Millions of Gallons of Toxic Oil?,"] ''Protect the Ocean'', March 3, 2010.</iref> Spreading the oil via use of dispersant masks the extent of damage created by the oil spill by allowing the oil to flow into the ocean unnoticed where it will continue damaging marine life, rather than collecting on the shore. <i>Id.</i><ref>John Taylor, [http://www.protecttheocean.com/gulf-oil-spill-bp/ "Gulf Oil Spill: BP Trying To Hide Millions of Gallons of Toxic Oil?,"] ''Protect the Ocean'', March 3, 2010.</ref>

Corexit is an EPA approved dispersant<ref>None given, [http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/ncp/product_schedule.htm "National Contingency Plan Product Schedule,"] ''EPA Website'', May 26, 2010.</ref> that is banned in the U.K.<ref>Edward Markey, [http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/letter-about-disperants-from-rep.-markey-to-epa1#document/p1 "Letter About Disperants From Rep. Markey to EPA,"] ''ProPublica'', May 17, 2010.</ref> Corexit was also used in the Exxon Valdez spill and was later linked to health problems including respiratory, nervous system, liver, kidney, and blood disorders. <ref>Marian Wang, [http://www.propublica.org/ion/blog/item/In-Gulf-Spill-BP-Using-Dispersants-Banned-in-UK "In Gulf Spill, BP Using Dispersants Banned in U.K.,"] ''ProPublica'', May 18, 2010.</ref> One Corexit product contains a compound that in high doses is associated with headaches, vomiting, and reproductive illnesses. <i>Id.</i><ref>Marian Wang, [http://www.propublica.org/ion/blog/item/In-Gulf-Spill-BP-Using-Dispersants-Banned-in-UK "In Gulf Spill, BP Using Dispersants Banned in U.K.,"] ''ProPublica'', May 18, 2010.</ref> Clean-up workers in the Exxon Valdez disaster reported blood in their urine and kidney and liver disorders.<ref>Paul Quinlan, [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/business/energy-environment/13greenwire-less-toxic-dispersants-lose-out-in-bp-oil-spil-81183.html?scp=5&sq=Corexit%20BP%20Oil%20Spill&st=cse "Less Toxic Dispersants Lose Out in BP Oil Spill Cleanup,"] ''The New York Times'', January 22, 2006.</ref> EPA data also shows that Corexit is far more toxic and far less effective than other approved dispersants.<ref>None given, [http://www.sundayherald.com/53711http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/ncp/tox_tables.htm "National Contingency Plan Product Schedule Toxicity and Effectiveness Summaries,"] ''EPA'', May 26, 2010.</ref>

BP has defended its use of Corexit, spokesman Jon Pack claiming it is "pretty effective."<ref>Paul Quinlan, [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/business/energy-environment/13greenwire-less-toxic-dispersants-lose-out-in-bp-oil-spil-81183.html?scp=5&sq=Corexit%20BP%20Oil%20Spill&st=cse "Less Toxic Dispersants Lose Out in BP Oil Spill Cleanup,"] ''The New York Times'', January 22, 2006.</ref> Pack has also said, "I'm not sure about the others." <i>Id.</i><ref>Paul Quinlan, [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/business/energy-environment/13greenwire-less-toxic-dispersants-lose-out-in-bp-oil-spil-81183.html?scp=5&sq=Corexit%20BP%20Oil%20Spill&st=cse "Less Toxic Dispersants Lose Out in BP Oil Spill Cleanup,"] ''The New York Times'', January 22, 2006.</ref> BP's defense of Corexit breaks down when scrutinized, as shown by U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York's questioning of BP's dispersant use. He questioned BP American Chairman Lamar MacKay regarding Corexit at a congressional hearing on May 19th, 2010:

Stories of illness are already emerging from oil spill workers. Seven workers were hospitalized Wednesday, May 26th, 2010, complaining of nausea, dizziness, and headaches.<ref>Rob Stein, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/27/AR2010052704033.html?hpid=topnews "Illnesses among workers highlight concerns about health risks of oil cleanup,"] ''The Washington Post'', May 27, 2010.</ref> Some of the first responders who have been tasked to help clean up the oil are reporting symptoms of disorientation, shortness of breath, coughing, a feeling of being drugged, and fatigue.<ref> [http://www.wdsu.com/health/23615203/detail.html "Fishermen Report Illness From BP Chemicals,"] ''WSDU'', May 19, 2010.</ref> For example, one reported feeling as though he was going to die and has been "coughing up stuff because your lungs fill up." <i>Id.</i><ref> [http://www.wdsu.com/health/23615203/detail.html "Fishermen Report Illness From BP Chemicals,"] ''WSDU'', May 19, 2010.</ref> Marine toxicologist [[Riki Ott]] has said the chemicals used by BP can "wreck havoc" on a person's body and even lead to death. <i>Id.</i><ref> [http://www.wdsu.com/health/23615203/detail.html "Fishermen Report Illness From BP Chemicals,"] ''WSDU'', May 19, 2010.</ref> Senior policy analyst of the EPA, Hugh Kaufman likens the situation to previous toxic waste disasters, such as the World Trade Center and the Exxon Valdez clean-up: "There's no way you can be working in that toxic soup with getting exposures." <i>Id.</i><ref> [http://www.wdsu.com/health/23615203/detail.html "Fishermen Report Illness From BP Chemicals,"] ''WSDU'', May 19, 2010.</ref> Riki Ott also finds the situation reminiscent of the Exxon Valdez disaster, where the clean-up response resulted in thousands of sick workers. OSHA requires BP to provide fitted respirators<ref> [http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=12716&p_table=standards "Regulations 1910.134,"] ''OSHA''.</ref>, but these regulations go unenforced and workers in the Gulf are cleaning up the oil without even the protection of basic gloves.<ref>Gina Solomon, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gina-solomon/oil-spill-clean-up-worker_b_589227.html "Oil Spill Clean-Up Workers Getting Sick,"] ''The Huffington Post'', May 28, 2010.</ref> The vice-president of the Louisiana Shrimper's Association is demanding respirators for all fishermen, stating the dispersant is poisoning the clean-up workers.<ref>[http://www.wdsu.com/mostpopular/23703792/detail.html "Official: Protect Health Of Louisiana's Fishermen,"] ''WDSU'', May 27, 2010.</ref>