As one the
worst oil spills in American history continues to wreak havoc in the U.S.
Gulf Coast, local birds and animals are finding themselves muddied in
toxic sludge. Surprisingly, volunteers and rescue crews are using a
common household ingredient to clean up the oil-coated
wildlife — Dawn dishwashing liquid.
worst oil spills in American history continues to wreak havoc in the U.S.
Gulf Coast, local birds and animals are finding themselves muddied in
toxic sludge. Surprisingly, volunteers and rescue crews are using a
common household ingredient to clean up the oil-coated
wildlife — Dawn dishwashing liquid.
The “tough on grease” dish detergent, commonly found at kitchen
sinks across America, is used by animal rescue and rehabilitation teams
to help gently remove oil from feathers, fur, and skin of oil-soaked
critters. Proctor & Gamble, which owns Dawn, has donated thousands
of bottles to wildlife conservation programs over the past 30 years,
cleansing more than 75,000 animals.
sinks across America, is used by animal rescue and rehabilitation teams
to help gently remove oil from feathers, fur, and skin of oil-soaked
critters. Proctor & Gamble, which owns Dawn, has donated thousands
of bottles to wildlife conservation programs over the past 30 years,
cleansing more than 75,000 animals.
The International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC), a California-based
nonprofit group, treated 1,084 birds in a 2007 San Francisco oil spill.
According to the group’s website, it recommends cleaning birds with
Dawn dishwashing liquid because of the cleanser’s ability to remove most oils and its
effectiveness at low concentrations as well as the fact that it is
non-irritating to the skin and eyes and easily rinsed from bird
feathers.
nonprofit group, treated 1,084 birds in a 2007 San Francisco oil spill.
According to the group’s website, it recommends cleaning birds with
Dawn dishwashing liquid because of the cleanser’s ability to remove most oils and its
effectiveness at low concentrations as well as the fact that it is
non-irritating to the skin and eyes and easily rinsed from bird
feathers.
“We discovered that Dawn is an effective way to clean and
rehab animals,” explained Jay Holcomb, the executive director of the
IBRRC. “[It’s] strong enough to remove the oil quickly, but mild on
their skin and feathers.”
rehab animals,” explained Jay Holcomb, the executive director of the
IBRRC. “[It’s] strong enough to remove the oil quickly, but mild on
their skin and feathers.”
A bird covered in oil tries to preen itself. While that may seem
like a good thing, it actually leads to the bird ingesting the oil. As
well, over-eager volunteers often attempt to quickly rub the oil off,
which can also be more dangerous than helpful.
like a good thing, it actually leads to the bird ingesting the oil. As
well, over-eager volunteers often attempt to quickly rub the oil off,
which can also be more dangerous than helpful.
The trick to removing oil is to force it to be suspended in water,
so it can be rinsed away. That’s not an easy task, since oil and water
are notoriously hard to mix, and in Dawn’s case, it achieves this feat
using a group of chemicals known as “surfactants,” a term that’s short
for “surface active agent.”
so it can be rinsed away. That’s not an easy task, since oil and water
are notoriously hard to mix, and in Dawn’s case, it achieves this feat
using a group of chemicals known as “surfactants,” a term that’s short
for “surface active agent.”
Surfactants reduce the surface tension of
water and can weaken the barrier that automatically forms between oil
and water, allowing them to unnaturally mix. Dawn specifically uses
anionic surfactants — such as alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, found in Dawn
Power Dissolver — which means the detergent’s molecules don’t convert
to ions in water. Combined with other ingredients like viscosity
adjusters, buffering agents, and processing aids, this allows the soap to
wash away oil without leaving behind a residue.
water and can weaken the barrier that automatically forms between oil
and water, allowing them to unnaturally mix. Dawn specifically uses
anionic surfactants — such as alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, found in Dawn
Power Dissolver — which means the detergent’s molecules don’t convert
to ions in water. Combined with other ingredients like viscosity
adjusters, buffering agents, and processing aids, this allows the soap to
wash away oil without leaving behind a residue.
According to a November 14, 2007, article on Slate, specially
trained workers clean the birds in a solution of 1 percent dishwashing
soap and warm water. The water temperature should match the bird’s
internal temperature of about 103 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. “Up to 15
tubs can be used for a single animal; washing a bird the size of a pelican might
take 300 gallons of water,” wrote Morgan Smith.
trained workers clean the birds in a solution of 1 percent dishwashing
soap and warm water. The water temperature should match the bird’s
internal temperature of about 103 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. “Up to 15
tubs can be used for a single animal; washing a bird the size of a pelican might
take 300 gallons of water,” wrote Morgan Smith.
As
part of the Minnie Driver-headed Everyday
Wildlife Champions campaign, consumers who use Dawn can help
rescue/rehab efforts directly. Next time you’re at the store, look for
a special-edition
bottle of Dawn (it’ll have a cute animal image on the bottle). Take
it home and head to the donation
activation page at the Dawn website.
part of the Minnie Driver-headed Everyday
Wildlife Champions campaign, consumers who use Dawn can help
rescue/rehab efforts directly. Next time you’re at the store, look for
a special-edition
bottle of Dawn (it’ll have a cute animal image on the bottle). Take
it home and head to the donation
activation page at the Dawn website.
Once you plug in the special
code on the bottle, $1 dollar will be donated to wildlife
groups like the Marine Mammal Center and
the
International Bird Rescue Research Center. Dawn’s goal is
to raise $500,000.
code on the bottle, $1 dollar will be donated to wildlife
groups like the Marine Mammal Center and
the
International Bird Rescue Research Center. Dawn’s goal is
to raise $500,000.
For those wishing to help scrub the animals in
person, the National
Audubon Society and the Tri-State Bird Rescue and
Research, among others, are coordinating volunteer efforts.
person, the National
Audubon Society and the Tri-State Bird Rescue and
Research, among others, are coordinating volunteer efforts.
Story written and researched by Benyamin Cohen, Matt Hickman,
Russell McLendon, and Steve Pollak at Mother Nature Network.
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