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Environmental agency action on oestrogenic discharges
Marine Pollution Bulletin the Environment Agency, asking that the 5 lag 1-1 limit be set aside and new timescales for reductions agreed. No decision has yet been made by the Environment Agency regarding Akcros's submission. Another Manchester firm which uses APEs, Libra Chemicals, agreed to phase out its discharges last year.
Environmental Agency Action on Oestrogenic Discharges Over the past few years, concern has been raised over exposure to a range of man-made chemicals and natural substances which are capable of mimicking or inhibiting hormones. The list of substances alleged to interfere with sex hormones is now vast, and includes ubiquitous industrial chemicals such as detergents, plasticizers and polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs). Alkyl phenols ethoxylates (APEs), breakdown products of common surfactants, were identified in a 1995 MAFF study as one of the major culprits of sewage effluent's oestrogenic effects on fish. Early research on APEs indicated potential problems in the river Aire, West Yorkshire. The wool scouring industry is concentrated largely in this area, and they discharge significant quantities of APEs from detergents used in the scouring process. In December 1995, scourers were requested to phase out APEs, substituting alcohol ethoxylates (AEs) which are slightly more expensive and believed to be less effective. Despite the low profitability of the wool scouring industry, two of the largest companies have now switched successfully to using AEs, and a third company has installed effluent treatment to minimize APE discharges. High levels of APEs have also been reported in Scottish rivers. These were identified as originating from wool processing effluent, and SEPA intend to set limits for the APE content of such effluents (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 32, 834). In contrast to the wool scourers' compliance, the chemical manufacturer Akcros is dragging its heels over required reductions in the APE output from their Manchester site. Akcros produce speciality chemicals for the plastics and rubber industries, and process APEs, as well as other oestrogenic chemicals. Their discharge contains high levels of APEs, which are only partially degraded by treatment at the local sewage works, releasing to a stream an effluent with levels of APEs and other environmental oestrogens well above those known to disrupt fish reproduction. Integrated pollution control (IPC) authorization required the firm to make written proposals for rendering the discharge harmless by the end of February 1997. Total concentrations of APEs and other oestrogenic breakdown products were to be no greater than 5 lag 1-t. Akcros have failed to produce these plans. They currently discharge 5 kg APEs day - t , at an average concentration of 6250 txg l - l , but propose to reduce this by 90% in six months time, resulting in APE levels of 625 ~tg 1-t-125 times the 'harmless' threshold. They have submitted a request to 284
SHIRLEY
HENDERSON
Ivermectin Controversy Continues The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has suspended the issue of 'Consents to Discharge' for the use of the controversial fish lice treatment Ivermectin. The decision has been made in the wake of growing concern by environmentalists and shellfish farmers who have now requested that the Secretary of State for Scotland call in all permissions granted. Last year SEPA granted permission for Ivermectin to be used on salmon farms to treat sea lice during a two year period (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 32, 694). Companies wishing to use the chemical had to apply to SEPA for a 'Consent to Discharge' into the marine environment. Discharge consents were issued for the two year period with strict conditions on treatments being limited to 3 four-week periods of twice-weekly administration in the fish's food. The use of Ivermectin sprang into the headlines late in 1996 when a report in the German newspaper l~ie Ziet claimed that Scottish farmed salmon 'may be poisoned by neurotoxins' (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 34, 71). Although this was strongly denied by the Scottish Salmon Growers Association, the result of the publicity was to add fuel to the growing wave of concern about the use of the chemical. Little is known about the environmental effects of Ivermectin when used as a control for fish lice in farmed salmon. Significant quantities of the control agent is excreted in the faeces of treated salmon in a still active form and is still toxic to crustacea, including commercially important species such as lobsters, crabs and scampi. One of the conditions for use is that the treated farm is not sited within two nautical miles of a shellfish farm. This has alarmed major shellfish growers who are now having to add residue testing to their list of testing requirements and are demanding that nearby salmon farmers pick up the bill.
Orimulsion Row Continues The row over the decision of Pembrokshire Council in Wales to allow the Pembroke power station to bum the
Environmental Agency Action on Oestrogenic Discharges Over the past few years, concern has been raised over exposure to a range of man-made chemicals and natural substances which are capable of mimicking or inhibiting hormones. The list of substances alleged to interfere with sex hormones is now vast, and includes ubiquitous industrial chemicals such as detergents, plasticizers and polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs). Alkyl phenols ethoxylates (APEs), breakdown products of common surfactants, were identified in a 1995 MAFF study as one of the major culprits of sewage effluent's oestrogenic effects on fish. Early research on APEs indicated potential problems in the river Aire, West Yorkshire. The wool scouring industry is concentrated largely in this area, and they discharge significant quantities of APEs from detergents used in the scouring process. In December 1995, scourers were requested to phase out APEs, substituting alcohol ethoxylates (AEs) which are slightly more expensive and believed to be less effective. Despite the low profitability of the wool scouring industry, two of the largest companies have now switched successfully to using AEs, and a third company has installed effluent treatment to minimize APE discharges. High levels of APEs have also been reported in Scottish rivers. These were identified as originating from wool processing effluent, and SEPA intend to set limits for the APE content of such effluents (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 32, 834). In contrast to the wool scourers' compliance, the chemical manufacturer Akcros is dragging its heels over required reductions in the APE output from their Manchester site. Akcros produce speciality chemicals for the plastics and rubber industries, and process APEs, as well as other oestrogenic chemicals. Their discharge contains high levels of APEs, which are only partially degraded by treatment at the local sewage works, releasing to a stream an effluent with levels of APEs and other environmental oestrogens well above those known to disrupt fish reproduction. Integrated pollution control (IPC) authorization required the firm to make written proposals for rendering the discharge harmless by the end of February 1997. Total concentrations of APEs and other oestrogenic breakdown products were to be no greater than 5 lag 1-t. Akcros have failed to produce these plans. They currently discharge 5 kg APEs day - t , at an average concentration of 6250 txg l - l , but propose to reduce this by 90% in six months time, resulting in APE levels of 625 ~tg 1-t-125 times the 'harmless' threshold. They have submitted a request to 284
SHIRLEY
HENDERSON
Ivermectin Controversy Continues The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has suspended the issue of 'Consents to Discharge' for the use of the controversial fish lice treatment Ivermectin. The decision has been made in the wake of growing concern by environmentalists and shellfish farmers who have now requested that the Secretary of State for Scotland call in all permissions granted. Last year SEPA granted permission for Ivermectin to be used on salmon farms to treat sea lice during a two year period (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 32, 694). Companies wishing to use the chemical had to apply to SEPA for a 'Consent to Discharge' into the marine environment. Discharge consents were issued for the two year period with strict conditions on treatments being limited to 3 four-week periods of twice-weekly administration in the fish's food. The use of Ivermectin sprang into the headlines late in 1996 when a report in the German newspaper l~ie Ziet claimed that Scottish farmed salmon 'may be poisoned by neurotoxins' (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 34, 71). Although this was strongly denied by the Scottish Salmon Growers Association, the result of the publicity was to add fuel to the growing wave of concern about the use of the chemical. Little is known about the environmental effects of Ivermectin when used as a control for fish lice in farmed salmon. Significant quantities of the control agent is excreted in the faeces of treated salmon in a still active form and is still toxic to crustacea, including commercially important species such as lobsters, crabs and scampi. One of the conditions for use is that the treated farm is not sited within two nautical miles of a shellfish farm. This has alarmed major shellfish growers who are now having to add residue testing to their list of testing requirements and are demanding that nearby salmon farmers pick up the bill.
Orimulsion Row Continues The row over the decision of Pembrokshire Council in Wales to allow the Pembroke power station to bum the