ASTM F1872-98
(Guide)Standard Guide for Use of Chemical Shoreline Cleaning Agents: Environmental and Operational Considerations
Standard Guide for Use of Chemical Shoreline Cleaning Agents: Environmental and Operational Considerations
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the use of chemical cleaning agents on oiled shorelines. This guide is not applicable to other chemical agents nor to the use of such products in open waters.
1.2 The purpose of this guide is to provide information that will enable spill responders to decide whether to use chemical shoreline cleaning agents as part of the oil spill cleanup response.
1.3 This is a general guide only. It is assumed that conditions at the spill site have been assessed and that these conditions are suitable for the use of cleaning agents. It is assumed that permission has been obtained to use the chemical agents. Variations in the behavior of different types of oil are not dealt with in this guide and may change some of the parameters noted herein.
1.4 This guide covers two different types of shoreline cleaners: those that disperse oil into the water and those that disperse little oil into the water under low energy levels. The selection criteria for these two types can differ widely. This guide does not cover dispersants.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation:F1872–98
Standard Guide for
Use of Chemical Shoreline Cleaning Agents: Environmental
and Operational Considerations
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1872; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-Seagrasses
F 932 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
1.1 This guide covers the use of chemical cleaning agents
Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-Coral Reefs
on oiled shorelines. This guide is not applicable to other
F 971 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
chemical agents nor to the use of such products in open waters.
Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-Mangroves
1.2 The purpose of this guide is to provide information that
F 972 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
will enable spill responders to decide whether to use chemical
Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-Nearshore
shoreline cleaning agents as part of the oil spill cleanup
Subtidal
response.
F 973 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
1.3 This is a general guide only. It is assumed that condi-
Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-Tidal Flats
tions at the spill site have been assessed and that these
F 990 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
conditions are suitable for the use of cleaning agents. It is
Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-Sandy
assumed that permission has been obtained to use the chemical
Beaches
agents. Variations in the behavior of different types of oil are
F 999 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
not dealt with in this guide and may change some of the
Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-Gravel or
parameters noted herein.
Cobble Beaches
1.4 This guide covers two different types of shoreline
F 1008 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
cleaners: those that disperse oil into the water and those that
Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-Salt Marshes
disperse little oil into the water under low energy levels. The
F 1012 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
selection criteria for these two types can differ widely. This
Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-the Arctic
guide does not cover dispersants.
F 1209 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Oilspill Dispersants in Freshwater and Other Inland Envi-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ronments, Ponds and Sloughs
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
F 1210 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Oilspill Dispersants in Freshwater and Other Inland Envi-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ronments, Lakes and Large Water Bodies
2. Referenced Documents F 1231 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
Oilspill Dispersants in Freshwater and Other Inland Envi-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ronments, Rivers and Creeks
F 929 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
F 1279 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-Marine Mam-
Oilspill Dispersants in Freshwater and Other Inland Envi-
mals
ronments, Permeable Surfaces
F 930 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
F 1280 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response-Rocky Shores
Oilspill Dispersants in Freshwater and Other Inland Envi-
F 931 Guide for Ecological Considerations for the Use of
ronments, Impermeable Surfaces
F 1686 Guide for Surveys to Document and Assess Oiling
Conditions on Shorelines
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-20 on Hazardous
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
3. Significance and Use
F20.13 on Treatment.
Current edition approved May 10, 1998. Published December 1998.
3.1 This guide is primarily intended to assist decision-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
makers and spill-responders in contingency planning, spill
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
response, and training.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1872–98
3.2 This guide is not specific to site or type of oil. 5.3 Shoreline cleaning agents that do not disperse, have
very little impact on the water column.
4. Background
5.4 Regulatory authorities may have additional criteria and
4.1 Chemical shoreline cleaning agents are compositions regulations regarding the acceptability and use of shoreline
cleaning agents.
designed to be applied to oil and to remove oil from the
shoreline above the low water line. 5.5 The decision of whether to use or not to use shoreline
cleaning agents always involves tradeoffs. Using a non-
4.2 Chemical shoreline cleaning agents are generally used
differently from chemical dispersants, which are used to treat dispersing shoreline cleaning agent moves oil out onto the
water where it must be recovered. Using a dispersing cleaning
oil spills in offshore waters.
4.3 Chemical shoreline cleaning agents are sometimes agent moves oil into the water column. Therefore, adverse
effects on water organisms may be increased in the water
known as surface washing agents, shoreline cleaners, or beach
cleaners. column (in the case of a dispersing agent) by removing it from
the shoreline.
4.4 The basic application method for shoreline cleaning
agents is to spray the product onto the oil and leave the agent 5.6 Shoreline cleaning agents are used primarily as a
to penetrate the oil and then either flush away the oil or let a cleanup method and not as a spill control method. Since some
shorelines are more vulnerable to the longer lasting impacts of
rising tide wash it away. The oil may be washed directly into
containment areas for recovery (1). spilled oil, an acceptable tradeoff may be to protect these
sensitive environments by removing the oil and either recov-
4.5 The fundamental advantage of using a shoreline clean-
ing agent is that oil can be removed rapidly without using ering it or putting it into a less sensitive environment. When
dispersing-type agents are used, the tradeoff that must be
excessive temperatures or pressures, which can be harmful to
biota on and in beaches (2,3). evaluated is the long-term impact of the residence time of
spilled oil that is stranded on shorelines as opposed to the
4.6 Laboratory effectiveness tests have been developed and
many products have been tested (4-6). Field effectiveness tests short-term impact of the presence of dispersed oil in the water
column. For non-dispersing agents, the trade-off that must be
are being developed (7,8).
4.7 Laboratorytestingshowsthateffectivenessmaydifferin evaluated is the difficulty of recovering the released oil versus
the impact of the long residence time of spilled oil that is
saltwater and freshwater (6,9).
4.8 There are differences in action mechanisms between stranded on shorelines and the possibility of re-oiling adjacent
shoreline.
dispersants and shoreline cleaning agents. Composition of the
two products differ (4, 9-13). 5.7 It has been found that some shoreline cleaning agents
are equally effective in fresh and salt water, while others are
4.9 Beforespecializedproductsweredeveloped,dispersants
were used as shoreline cleaning agents with varying results not. The salinity of the water involved may therefore be a
factor, and the effectiveness of the particular product in that
(14).
4.10 The aquatic toxicity of the treating agents varies salinity (9).
widely and is a factor in choosing products (3,9).
6. Environments Covered
4.11 The amount of oil dispersed into water primarily
6.1 Shorelines Generally—Shorelines vary extensively in
depends on energy used to remove the oil from the substrate,
their composition and their retention of oil. Several classifica-
especially for dispersing shoreline treating agents. The energy
tionschemesareavailableforoiledshorelinesaswellasguides
level is difficult to measure, but may be estimated from
to other cleanup methods (15,16).
indicators such as the pressure of the rinse water (1-3).
6.2 Seagrasses—Seagrass-dominated shorelines can be
4.12 The ease of oil removal from a beach depends very
found in shallow marine environments from the tropics to
much on the type of oil, its degree of weathering and the type
Arctic regions. Seagrass beds form a discreet ecosystem that
of beach. For example, a highly-weathered oil is difficult to
traps material derived from terrestrial sources and then exports
remove by any means (2).
large quantities of organic matter to the open sea.The presence
5. General Considerations for Using Chemical Shoreline
of an extensive network of roots and rhizomes facilitates not
Cleaning Agents only the sediment-binding of the grass beds but also the
transport of materials back out to sea. Oil can adhere to the
5.1 Two basic types of shoreline cleaners are available:
seagrasses and cause damage.
those that disperse oil into the water column, and those that
6.3 Mangroves—Mangroveecosystemsareintertidalforests
disperse little oil into the water column at low energy levels.
dominated by various species of woody halophytes, commonly
5.2 Considerations for the use of shoreline cleaning agents
called mangroves. There are 12 families and more than 54
that disperse are the same as those for using dispersants in the
species of mangroves. Mangrove ecosystems occur in tropical
specific habitat. ASTM Guides F 929, F 930, F 931, F 932,
low-energy depositional areas. Mangroves tend to promote the
F 971, F 972, F 973, F 990, F 999, F 1008, F 1012, F 1209,
deposition of organic and mineral matter and their extensive
F 1210, F 1231, F 1279, F 1280, and F 1686 have been pre-
root systems are important in stabilizing intertidal sediments.
pared for many of these habitats as referenced in Section 2.
They are important ecologically as they provide the structural
basis for many species of animals and plants. Mangroves are
particularly prone to damage from oiling as they have respira-
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
this standard. tory openings on roots that can be clogged (17).
F1872–98
6.4 TidalFlats—Tidalflatsareusuallybroadintertidalareas fringe of a lake or river. Retention of oil is again high and due
of unconsolidated sediments that have little slope and are to the low energy, self-cleaning is minimal.
usually protected from direct wave action. They are composed 6.11 PondsandSloughs—Ponds and sloughs are freshwater
of sediments of varying characteristic grain size depending on bodies that have little or no water circulation. These water
the amount of wave and current energy present.Tidal flats may bodies are characterized by high oil retentivity as often there is
be covered by seagrasses, marsh grass, or mangroves, the dense vegetation that can retain oil.
environments which are discussed elsewhere in this guide.
6.12 Lake Shores—Lakes are freshwater bodies that can
Tidal flats are important to the coastal ecosystem because of have shorelines very similar to sea shores.
the high biological productivity. Oil retention on tidal flats is
6.13 River Shores—River shores may be similar to their sea
largely transitory and oil will often be carried to the supra-tidal shore counterparts. Specific types should be compared to that
regions.
of sea shores.
6.14 Man-Made Structures—Man-made structures include
6.5 Sandy Beaches—Sandy beaches are composed of sedi-
piers, docks, breakwaters, boat ramps, dykes, etc. The reten-
mentsrangingfrom0.06to2.0mminsize.Thecompositionof
tivity and porosity of such structures vary with the type of
the sand itself may vary, but it is usually either siliceous or
construction material.
carbonate. The character of the sediment may be a significant
factor in oil retention as oil adheres differently to different
7. General Operational and Environmental
types of materials. Wave action can change the profile of a
sandy beach and can bury or cover oil. Considerations for Use of Shoreline Cleaning Agents
6.6 GravelBeaches—Gravel beaches are composed of sedi-
7.1 The tradeoff between leaving the oil on the shoreline or
ments ranging in size from 2.0 to 63 mm. The materials are
removing it by perhaps more intrusive means, and the use of
usually a mixture of minerals with a variety of oil retention
the treating agent is the primary consideration. The use of
properties. Gravel beaches are dynamic and sometimes change
dispersing shoreline cleaning agents involves the additional
in profile. They can retain large amounts of oil which may be
consideration of the fate and effects of the oil in the aquatic
buried under clean beach material as a result of wave action.
environment.
The dynamic nature of the gravel beach depends on its
7.2 Theaquatictoxicityofthetreatingagentandtheoilisof
exposure. Sheltered gravel beaches are relatively stable,
concern for dispersing shoreline cleaning agents. These types
whereas the gravel on exposed beaches may be continuously
of shoreline cleaning agents require the same considerations as
re-distributed.
noted for dispersants in the referenced documents.
6.7 Cobble Beaches—Cobble beaches are composed of 7.3 The effectiveness of a shoreline cleaning agent may not
materials ranging from 64 to 256 mm. Cobble beaches are be the same in fresh water as in salt water.
relatively stable, unless the beach is exposed to high seas.
7.4 Non-dispersing shoreline cleaning agents are usually
Cobble beaches will retain the most oil of all types of beaches used to remove oil from the shoreline and the oil is then
because of the large interstitial spaces.
recovered.The oil spill recovery potential off a given shoreline
must then be considered.
6.8 Boulder/Rocky Beaches—Boulder or rocky beaches are
7.5 An agent is most effective when it has ample time to
composed of materials larger than 256 mm (boulders) or
penetrate into the oil. Thirty minutes or more of soaking or
bedrock. Despite the large interstitial spaces, they do not retain
penetration time are recommended (1).
asmuchoilascobblebeaches,generallybecausetheinterstitial
7.6 After treatment, the oil may be removed
...
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