No Soap Approach

Oil in waterA prevalent misunderstanding regarding the application of soaps, detergents or dispersing agents to oil spills is the belief that merely applying soap to an oil slick will adequately address the contamination. In truth, this approach can exacerbate the problem by dispersing the oil deeper into the water column, which may endanger additional aquatic organisms and complicate the removal of the pollutant.  Soaps and detergents in and of themselves are actually a pollutant that may be harmful to aquatic organisms.

Detergents can have toxic effects on various forms of aquatic life:

  • Detergents compromise the protective mucus layers on fish, making them more susceptible to bacteria and parasites. They can also inflict significant harm to the gills of fish.
  • Additionally, soaps and detergents can adversely affect the organisms that fish consume, such as insects, by disrupting their cellular membranes and stripping away the protective waxes that shield them, ultimately leading to their death from excessive water loss.

Soaps and detergents introduce additional complications:

  • Phosphates present in detergents can contribute to algal blooms in freshwater systems. These blooms deplete the oxygen available to fish in aquatic environments, as the decomposition of algae consumes oxygen. A decrease in dissolved oxygen can also alter the chemical composition of underwater sediments, releasing toxins that pose further risks to aquatic life.
  • Soaps and detergents reduce the surface tension of water, which hinders the ability of aquatic insects, such as water striders, to remain buoyant on the surface. This can result in fish and other aquatic organisms being deprived of oxygen, as detergents bind with oxygen to create bubbles, which are detrimental to fish. Moreover


Based on state and federal laws it is It is illegal to use soaps or other dispersing agents to dissipate and/or mask oil on the water.