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IMO supports Caribbean marine pollution solutions
Volume 32/Numbers 8/9/August/September1996 disrupt reproduction via synergistic interactions. The study also demonstrated synergism between two PCB congeners; these were found to be about ten times more potent in combination than individually. The method used to detect oestrogenic potential was based on a genetically modified yeast which produces the human oestrogen receptor protein. These results support suspicions raised by other scientists that the presence in the environment of a cocktail containing relatively low concentrations of several oestrogenic compounds can have a disproportionate impact on reproductive systems. The researchers note that their findings suggest the oestrogenic potency of some environmental compounds may be underestimated when tested singly. Studies have yet to be conducted to determine if these synergistic effects occur in living organisms, and to assess their significance to human health. SHIRLEY HENDERSON
IMO Supports Caribbean Marine Pollution Solutions Twenty-two Caribbean and Central American countries are co-operating to combat pollution. Whilst land based sources are the biggest contributor to the problem, the maritime related sources are, perhaps, the more obvious. The principal marine source culprit is the 83 000 t of rubbish generated by cruise ships, although international and coastal cargo ships also contribute significantly to the problem (see Mar. Pollut. Bull 32(5), 388). Partly to blame is the lack of waste-reception facilities at the many ports of call so that much of the rubbish is dumped overboard in contravention of the anti-pollution convention, Marpol 73/78. Although the Caribbean has already been granted 'special' area status by IMO, and this imposes a total ban on overboard disposal of virtually all ship-waste (except for ground food discharged three or more miles offshore), twelve countries in the region have not yet acceded to Marpol, or any of its annexes, which does not help in solving the problem. With $5.5 million funding from the World Banks' Global Environment Facility (GEF) the Wider Caribbean Initiative for Ship-generated Waste (WCISW), based at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Port of Spain, is making inroads to solving some of the problems. A major task is to persuade governments that have not yet ratified Marpol
73/78 to do so and to simultaneously identify sources of funding for providing waste reception units in the twenty-two WCISW countries. With the IMO and World Bank support there is optimism that solutions will eventually prove effective. HAMISH MAIR
Thai Offshore Mercury Contamination Study UNOCAL is to spend $66 000 on a series of studies on mercury contamination around its gas drilling rigs in the Gulf of Thailand. The studies will include a survey on mercury in fish, human health and ecological risk assessment, and naturally occuring sources of mercury in the area with the purpose of quelling public fears of contaminated marine products reaching the consumer. The survey follows a report by Professor Piamsak Menasveta of Chulalongkorn University that high levels of mercury had been found in the tissues of a number of fish in the area of the installations between 1992 and 1994 (see Mar. Pollut. Bull. 32(7)). He also drew attention to the fact that UNOCAL had been discharging water contaminated with mercury without proper treatment. According to UNOCAL, the company had been concerned about the mercury problem for some time, since it found that oil from the Gulf of Thailand is naturally contaminated by the heavy metal. It also admitted to releasing about 90 kg of mercury to the sea each year which is says is equivalent to about six or seven litres. UNOCAL also claim that the mercury level in fish, discharged water and sea water surrounding the installations is within internationally acceptable standards and that the average level of 0.248 ppm in fish, reported by Professor Piamsak, was less than half that allowed in marine products (0.5 ppm) and only 0.003 ppm more than control fish taken from coastal waters off Chon Buri's Bang Sarae. However, officials from the Fisheries Department and Fisheries Environment Division are not convinced and are concerned that the mercury contamination might move up the food chain, finally reaching humans. They suggest that further studies should include marine worms and shellfish living in the sea bed around the installations, since unlike fish they are unable to move away from contaminated conditions. D. FEGAN
587
IMO Supports Caribbean Marine Pollution Solutions Twenty-two Caribbean and Central American countries are co-operating to combat pollution. Whilst land based sources are the biggest contributor to the problem, the maritime related sources are, perhaps, the more obvious. The principal marine source culprit is the 83 000 t of rubbish generated by cruise ships, although international and coastal cargo ships also contribute significantly to the problem (see Mar. Pollut. Bull 32(5), 388). Partly to blame is the lack of waste-reception facilities at the many ports of call so that much of the rubbish is dumped overboard in contravention of the anti-pollution convention, Marpol 73/78. Although the Caribbean has already been granted 'special' area status by IMO, and this imposes a total ban on overboard disposal of virtually all ship-waste (except for ground food discharged three or more miles offshore), twelve countries in the region have not yet acceded to Marpol, or any of its annexes, which does not help in solving the problem. With $5.5 million funding from the World Banks' Global Environment Facility (GEF) the Wider Caribbean Initiative for Ship-generated Waste (WCISW), based at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Port of Spain, is making inroads to solving some of the problems. A major task is to persuade governments that have not yet ratified Marpol
73/78 to do so and to simultaneously identify sources of funding for providing waste reception units in the twenty-two WCISW countries. With the IMO and World Bank support there is optimism that solutions will eventually prove effective. HAMISH MAIR
Thai Offshore Mercury Contamination Study UNOCAL is to spend $66 000 on a series of studies on mercury contamination around its gas drilling rigs in the Gulf of Thailand. The studies will include a survey on mercury in fish, human health and ecological risk assessment, and naturally occuring sources of mercury in the area with the purpose of quelling public fears of contaminated marine products reaching the consumer. The survey follows a report by Professor Piamsak Menasveta of Chulalongkorn University that high levels of mercury had been found in the tissues of a number of fish in the area of the installations between 1992 and 1994 (see Mar. Pollut. Bull. 32(7)). He also drew attention to the fact that UNOCAL had been discharging water contaminated with mercury without proper treatment. According to UNOCAL, the company had been concerned about the mercury problem for some time, since it found that oil from the Gulf of Thailand is naturally contaminated by the heavy metal. It also admitted to releasing about 90 kg of mercury to the sea each year which is says is equivalent to about six or seven litres. UNOCAL also claim that the mercury level in fish, discharged water and sea water surrounding the installations is within internationally acceptable standards and that the average level of 0.248 ppm in fish, reported by Professor Piamsak, was less than half that allowed in marine products (0.5 ppm) and only 0.003 ppm more than control fish taken from coastal waters off Chon Buri's Bang Sarae. However, officials from the Fisheries Department and Fisheries Environment Division are not convinced and are concerned that the mercury contamination might move up the food chain, finally reaching humans. They suggest that further studies should include marine worms and shellfish living in the sea bed around the installations, since unlike fish they are unable to move away from contaminated conditions. D. FEGAN
587