"SCOPE OF INFORMATION Data acquired from the several sources were categorized as follows: ? Chemical - Physical Properties Chemical Composition Specific Gravity Flash Point Interstate Commerce Commission Classification Viscosity Miscibility Solvent Compatibility Shelf Life ? Cost ? Dosage Rate ? Application Method ? Availability ? Use Recommendations and Limitations ? Spill Experience ? Effectiveness ? Toxicity Aside from condensation@ all data were compiled as received@ i.e.@ no interpretation was given to recommendations or claims. In all cases the source of the information given on the data sheet for each treatment agent was identified as ""By Manufacturer"" and ""By Others@"" where the data pertained to usage directions@ effectiveness@ toxicity@ or spill experiences. Certain information@ particularly chemical composition@ was sometimes deemed to be proprietary by the manufacturer and therefore was not provided. In other cases information was not available as to some characteristic or property of a treatment agent. Since this study did not include laboratory investigation@ such gaps unfortunately are not resolved. The reader will note that the data sheets for certain agents contain a comparatively large amount of detailed information. This is the result of such agents having been widely used in past oil spills treatment and is not meant as an endorsement of any specific product or type of agent. Caution should be exercised in interpreting effectiveness information derived from laboratory tests. In practice@ the use of agents on the open sea is inevitably less efficient than is the case in the laboratory because of scale effects and the paucity of detailed knowledge of the changes that are taking place from moment to moment and place to place in an oil slick and hence because of a lack of guidelines as to the correct rate of application of the agent.(10) Finally@ a number of products@ which have been variously listed in trade journals and elsewhere as oil spill treating agents@ were not included in the data sheets because of extremely fragmentary information. These agents were not omitted because of presumed inferior characteristics it is possible that some of them could be very superior with respect to effectiveness@ toxicity@ cost@ or other important factors."