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Nitrogen cycle reviewed
Marine Pollution Bulletin
UN Survey Mediterranean Beaches Plastic Litter Tougher measures against the sea's litter louts are to be taken next year, when an international grouping of 53 countries tackle the ocean's harvest of discarded plastic bottles. This follows complaints from fishermen that plastic containers and other synthetic debris foul their nets, and mounting concern from environmentalist groups. The London Dumping Convention (LDC) recently discussed the issue of such waste, and is concerned to catch the culprits by getting member states to enforce an existing ban on imperishable synthetic waste. Meanwhile the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Mr David Mitchell, claims that shipowners have responded in a positive way to his department's request to avoid disposal of garbage at sea, and passenger ferry operators already have standing orders banning this. Processing equipment is being fitted on board cruise liners to treat large volumes of glass, metal and plastic wastes. Marine litter is currently the subject of interdepartmental discussion and the results will be included in the British Government's response to the tenth report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.
Indian Coastal Pollution An article on Environmental Pollution in India (Mazingira Vol. 7, No. 1, 1983) by Professor A. K. Sharma, shows that rapid industrialization in India has led to drastic pollution of the environment. Both natural and synthetic pollutants bombard India's air, water and soil. Many industrial centres and wide tracts of agricultural land are found along the coastline of India, and the discharge of pesticides, fertilizers and industrial effluents continually contribute to marine pollution. The National Institute of Oceanography at Goa has recommended that submarine pipelines for the discharge of effluents from coastal factories be laid at a certain depth from the surface. Plans are now underway to establish a pollutant monitoring system in Bombay.
Mercury and Acid Rain According to a preliminary EPA analysis, there have been recent findings of increasing levels of methyl mercury in the edible tissues of freshwater fish. In certain areas of the US the study states that the problem is complicated by acid rain. A statistical correlation has been found between the acidity of the lakes and elevated levels of methyl mercury in fish. While it is known that local pollution of lakes and rivers gave rise to high concentrations of methyl mercury, an important finding is that high levels are present in lakes remote from anthropogenic sources. 204
A United Nations Survey covering 700 beaches in 14 countries has found that nearly a quarter of Mediterranean beaches are unsafe for bathing, because of pollution caused by sewage and industry. The survey also found that shellfish, in 48 of the 50 areas sampled, were unsuitable for human consumption. Both reports were put on the agenda of the meeting of the UN-sponsored Mediterranean Action Plan. But despite opposition by environmentalists, the meeting refused to set quality targets for bathing and shellfish waters.
Nitrogen Cycle Reviewed A six-year scientific study of the UK's nitrogen cycle by a Royal Society Study group has called for more research into acid rain, before any policy decisions are taken. The study, headed by Professor William Stewart of Dundee University, claims that the case against industry as the cause of acid rain is unproven. The study found 'good evidence' that a third of the acidity in rain in northern Britain is due to nitric acid. Professor Stewart also claims there is "insufficientinformation to say with certainty that man-made acid deposition is a significant environmental problem in the UK". The study warns that without the missing data any Governmental policy decision on acid rain "cannot be justified scientifically or economically". The study found that nitrogen enters the atmosphere as ammonia from agricultural land, mainly livestock wastes and fertilizer, and both nitrogen and sulphur enter the atmosphere from the sea. The House of Commons Environment Committee recently began an enquiry into acid rain. More information about the Royal Society study can be found in The Nitrogen Cycle of the United Kingdom; Royal Society, 6 Carlton House Terrace, London; price £12.50.
Burning Issue The incineration of hazardous wastes at sea looks set for expansion according to a New Scientistarticle by Catherine Caufield. Each year hundreds of tonnes of heavy metals and toxic chemicals are released over the North Sea, and now it seems likely that America will soon allow burning in the Gulf of Mexico. This move coincides with a campaign to remove incineration at sea from the control of two international treaties. Chem-Waste, the biggest handler of chemical wastes in the US, are pressing for a three-year permit to burn 300 000 t of PCBs, DDT and dioxin in the Gulf of Mexico. The company also operates in the North Sea, and is campaigning for incineration to be dropped from the Oslo Convention, on the grounds that it is not dangerous enough to require international controls. At present most burning takes place in the North Sea, under the Oslo Convention, which includes a commitment to ban the process altogether. Critics claim that the 'cheap and dirty' methods allowed on ships can be dangerous to aquatic life as the
UN Survey Mediterranean Beaches Plastic Litter Tougher measures against the sea's litter louts are to be taken next year, when an international grouping of 53 countries tackle the ocean's harvest of discarded plastic bottles. This follows complaints from fishermen that plastic containers and other synthetic debris foul their nets, and mounting concern from environmentalist groups. The London Dumping Convention (LDC) recently discussed the issue of such waste, and is concerned to catch the culprits by getting member states to enforce an existing ban on imperishable synthetic waste. Meanwhile the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Mr David Mitchell, claims that shipowners have responded in a positive way to his department's request to avoid disposal of garbage at sea, and passenger ferry operators already have standing orders banning this. Processing equipment is being fitted on board cruise liners to treat large volumes of glass, metal and plastic wastes. Marine litter is currently the subject of interdepartmental discussion and the results will be included in the British Government's response to the tenth report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.
Indian Coastal Pollution An article on Environmental Pollution in India (Mazingira Vol. 7, No. 1, 1983) by Professor A. K. Sharma, shows that rapid industrialization in India has led to drastic pollution of the environment. Both natural and synthetic pollutants bombard India's air, water and soil. Many industrial centres and wide tracts of agricultural land are found along the coastline of India, and the discharge of pesticides, fertilizers and industrial effluents continually contribute to marine pollution. The National Institute of Oceanography at Goa has recommended that submarine pipelines for the discharge of effluents from coastal factories be laid at a certain depth from the surface. Plans are now underway to establish a pollutant monitoring system in Bombay.
Mercury and Acid Rain According to a preliminary EPA analysis, there have been recent findings of increasing levels of methyl mercury in the edible tissues of freshwater fish. In certain areas of the US the study states that the problem is complicated by acid rain. A statistical correlation has been found between the acidity of the lakes and elevated levels of methyl mercury in fish. While it is known that local pollution of lakes and rivers gave rise to high concentrations of methyl mercury, an important finding is that high levels are present in lakes remote from anthropogenic sources. 204
A United Nations Survey covering 700 beaches in 14 countries has found that nearly a quarter of Mediterranean beaches are unsafe for bathing, because of pollution caused by sewage and industry. The survey also found that shellfish, in 48 of the 50 areas sampled, were unsuitable for human consumption. Both reports were put on the agenda of the meeting of the UN-sponsored Mediterranean Action Plan. But despite opposition by environmentalists, the meeting refused to set quality targets for bathing and shellfish waters.
Nitrogen Cycle Reviewed A six-year scientific study of the UK's nitrogen cycle by a Royal Society Study group has called for more research into acid rain, before any policy decisions are taken. The study, headed by Professor William Stewart of Dundee University, claims that the case against industry as the cause of acid rain is unproven. The study found 'good evidence' that a third of the acidity in rain in northern Britain is due to nitric acid. Professor Stewart also claims there is "insufficientinformation to say with certainty that man-made acid deposition is a significant environmental problem in the UK". The study warns that without the missing data any Governmental policy decision on acid rain "cannot be justified scientifically or economically". The study found that nitrogen enters the atmosphere as ammonia from agricultural land, mainly livestock wastes and fertilizer, and both nitrogen and sulphur enter the atmosphere from the sea. The House of Commons Environment Committee recently began an enquiry into acid rain. More information about the Royal Society study can be found in The Nitrogen Cycle of the United Kingdom; Royal Society, 6 Carlton House Terrace, London; price £12.50.
Burning Issue The incineration of hazardous wastes at sea looks set for expansion according to a New Scientistarticle by Catherine Caufield. Each year hundreds of tonnes of heavy metals and toxic chemicals are released over the North Sea, and now it seems likely that America will soon allow burning in the Gulf of Mexico. This move coincides with a campaign to remove incineration at sea from the control of two international treaties. Chem-Waste, the biggest handler of chemical wastes in the US, are pressing for a three-year permit to burn 300 000 t of PCBs, DDT and dioxin in the Gulf of Mexico. The company also operates in the North Sea, and is campaigning for incineration to be dropped from the Oslo Convention, on the grounds that it is not dangerous enough to require international controls. At present most burning takes place in the North Sea, under the Oslo Convention, which includes a commitment to ban the process altogether. Critics claim that the 'cheap and dirty' methods allowed on ships can be dangerous to aquatic life as the