Research Product

The data on effects of drilling fluid on embryo development in Fundulus and a sand dollar represent an initial survey on very general aspects of embryogenesis. It is clear that this drilling fluid sample contains toxic material, affecting the development of the teleost and the fertilization and development of the sand dollar. It should be noted that no one sample is representative of all drilling fluids. The components of the fluid are altered to meet the momentary needs of the drilling operation. For example, this sample is moderately high in chromium (2400 ug/g), zinc (163 ug/g) and lead (66.6 ug/g) but low in barium content (7.31%). The range of variability among drilling fluids for these components can be found to be approximately 50 to 5500 ug/g for Cr, 50 to 600 ug/g for Zn, 25 to 120 ug/g for Pb, and 1 to 35% for Ba. This variability is not mentioned to suggest the active components, of which we have no knowledge, but only to illustrate the 'non-typical' nature of any one sample.