Ethanol aquatic spills may be worse for environment, aquatic life

In California, research has induced that ethanol aquatic spills are potential more dangerous to aquatic life than traditional gasoline, as ethanol-based liquids mix actively with water, according to the American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics. The research, presented last week in San Diego, has calculated the spread of ethanol into water based on a passive diffusion/dispersion process, but is not rooted in the scientific explanation of the interaction between water and ethanol. “We can’t make statements about the environmental impact of ethanol before we’ve more fully investigated its potential effects on surface water quality in the event of a spill,” note the researchers.

More on the story.