Orange Beach City Engineer Kit Alexander presented a report to the city council on Tuesday that summarized all data collected on water, air and sediment samples that have been taken from several locations throughout the city to check toxicity levels of dispersants and for oil.

Water, sediment and air samples have been taken from several locations throughout the city since June. Some of the sites included the State Park, Romar Beach public beach access, the Perdido Pass and Waterfront Park.

Sampling showed that during the month of July, water testing detected Naphthalene at the Cotton Bayou beach access, which was above the EPA threshold. Analyte was detected at three other locations, all at levels below EPA thresholds.

In July, testing showed a hit for Propylene Glycol at Turquoise Beachside and the Cotton Bayou boat ramp, however the chemical is found in products used to clean boats and could have been found in the water even before the oil spill occurred.

“What these tests show is what we have been trying to portray, which is, yes we have oil, but we are not seeing any concentrations that would cause alarm with regards to toxicity,” Alexander said.

According to LaDon Swann, Director of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, many of the constituents found in Corexit that may be found in the water, are also found in everyday items that we normally use such as skin cream, body shampoo, baby bath, mouthwash and household cleaning products.

Alexander said due to the outcry from some residents as well as because of some concerns expressed by members of the city council, testing should continue. Of the $100,000 allocated by BP for testing, Orange Beach has spent approximately $80,000.

Beginning this week, there will be samplings at two locations for surface water, specifically Cotton Bayou and Terry Cove, a minimum of twice per week for the next three to four weeks. Testing will be done for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), dispersant markers, DOSS, and Alkylated PAH’s.

An eight-hour air sampling test will also continue at Cotton Bayou beach access, Walker Avenue and Waterfront Park.

In addition, sediment samples will be taken at all beach sites to establish a pre-cleanup bases for post-cleanup comparison.

Former state toxicologist for the Alabama Department of Public Health, Neil Sass, also addressed the council regarding testing, and Alexander said that she hopes Sass will be part of a scientific panel being put together that is going to council city leaders in regards to the status of beach and water testing.

“He has many, many years in toxicology,” Alexander explained. “He worked with the FDA for over 20 years.”

Mayor Tony Kennon reminded those in attendance that the city cannot verify when or where dispersants were sprayed.

“All we have to go by is what they tell us,” Kennon said. “Just because they say they didn’t use dispersants after July 19, we have to way to verify whether they did or didn’t.”