The Discobiol project focuses on the use of dispersants as a response technique in coastal areas. This 3-year programme, 2008-2010, aims to compare the impact of chemical dispersion with that of non-dispersion in order to provide necessary information for decision-making in the event of a spill. The toxicity and impact of oil with and without chemical dispersant is to be investigated on organisms living in the water column, on mudflats, and finally on marshes. These experiments are being carried out at Cedre, using specially developed facilities. Initial results show that the concentrations determined here are significantly higher than those in the case of actual spills.