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Oestrogenic discharges threaten Scottish wildlife
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Oestrogenic Discharges Threaten Scottish Wildlife A survey conducted by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has revealed 13 locations where the quantities of oestrogenic compounds being discharged exceed what they consider to be ‘no-effect’ levels. The survey measured levels of nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NPEs) and phthalates in 60 major discharges throughout Scotland. NPEs are common components of industrial detergents, and are broken down in sewage treatment works to nonyl phenol (NE), which has oestrogenic properties. Phthalates are added as plasticizers in plastics, and are also used in paints, inks and adhesives. They are ubiquitous contaminants of effluents, and certain types are known to be oestrogenic. Animal studies have yielded strong evidence on the impact of oestrogenic chemicals on wildlife reproduction, and copepods close to a sewage works’ outfall in the River Forth have been found to be hermaphrodite. In light of the knowledge that NPEs in wool scouring effluents had been shown to pose a threat to fish in Yorkshire rivers, SEPA were prompted to assess the extent of the problem in Scotland, which has a large woollen industry. The findings suggest that extensive substitution or improved effluent treatment may be needed to prevent potential environmental damage. Results showed that levels of NPEs, NE and phthalates in et3uents from 13 industrial sites far exceeded the levels considered to produce no effect in the receiving waters. One of the highest levels of NPEs was found in the discharge from Kinross wool processor, Todd and Duncan. Their effluent flows into a small stream leading to Loch Leven, which is a National Nature Reserve and supports an important brown trout fishery. Although SEPA have no evidence that the discharges are causing oestrogenic effects in the environment, they have prioritized sites where a reduction in emissions is judged to be ‘environmentally necessary’. The Agency intends to issue discharge consents, and are already negotiating with Todd and Duncan on this matter. SHIRLEY HENDERSON
The Cost of Abandonment A new report from oil industry analysts places the cost of decommissioning oil fields currently in production or earmarked for development on the UK Continental Shelf at f8.4 billion. According to the report, which was produced by Wood Mckenzie, average total abandonment cost is El23 million for the 71 companies with interests on the UK shelf and of the top 22 companies operating on the shelf, 15 have total abandonment costs of between El00 million and g300 million. The top three companies are reported as Shell, Esso and British Petroleum. Apparently Shell has a projected abandonment expenditure of around El.2 billion in 1996 terms. Esso 834
is projected to have the second highest expenditure at El.1 billion, followed closely by BP. The fourth on the list is British Gas with projected abandonment costs in the region of E585 million. Wood Mckenzie reckons that the top three companies account for 40% of the total estimated abandonment liabilities. Over 20 facilities have been decommissioned to date and a further 14 fields can be expected to cease production by the end of the century. However, the report suggests that the majority of field abandonments on the UK shelf will occur in the period between 2007 and 2018. The report also points out that the final abandonment liability for each company will be significantly less than that stated since the figures do not take into account tax rebates. It is thought that this factor may influence the UK government over approval of the Best Practical Environmental Option. What is made clear is that the principal financial beneficiaries of the abandonment process will be the contractors and service companies.
Damages Against Green Indecision A Portuguese fish farmer who has been fighting in the courts for 13 years over the use of his land has been awarded 65 million escudos (267,000) damages by the European Court of Human Rights. The fish farming company, Matos e Silva Lda, had been told by the Portuguese government 13 years before that it would lose the use of half its land in order to form a nature park to help provide protection for migratory birds. This was all part of a plan to form the Ria Formosa nature reserve on the Algarve coast. Rules were therefore applied to the land to ensure protection of the region’s ecosystem. The land required by the government involved fish farming, aquaculture and salt production on land holding concessions since the 19th century. Land appropriation started in 1983 and the main grievance from the company is the extensive delays that have since ensued in decision making regarding the land. Matos e Silva contested many administrative decisions over the years and some of these have still not been resolved. The appeal to the Strasbourg court claimed that the European Convention on Human Rights had been breached because of the delays and problems in the Portuguese courts which had denied the company the right to ‘enjoy its possessions’ and use them for its own purposes. This plea was upheld by the court because the uncertainty had lasted an excessive length of time.
Scuttled Radioactive Waste Riddle Up to 30 vessels laden with radioactive material are believed to have been scuttled in the Mediterranean as part of an elaborate plan to defraud insurers and avoid
Oestrogenic Discharges Threaten Scottish Wildlife A survey conducted by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has revealed 13 locations where the quantities of oestrogenic compounds being discharged exceed what they consider to be ‘no-effect’ levels. The survey measured levels of nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NPEs) and phthalates in 60 major discharges throughout Scotland. NPEs are common components of industrial detergents, and are broken down in sewage treatment works to nonyl phenol (NE), which has oestrogenic properties. Phthalates are added as plasticizers in plastics, and are also used in paints, inks and adhesives. They are ubiquitous contaminants of effluents, and certain types are known to be oestrogenic. Animal studies have yielded strong evidence on the impact of oestrogenic chemicals on wildlife reproduction, and copepods close to a sewage works’ outfall in the River Forth have been found to be hermaphrodite. In light of the knowledge that NPEs in wool scouring effluents had been shown to pose a threat to fish in Yorkshire rivers, SEPA were prompted to assess the extent of the problem in Scotland, which has a large woollen industry. The findings suggest that extensive substitution or improved effluent treatment may be needed to prevent potential environmental damage. Results showed that levels of NPEs, NE and phthalates in et3uents from 13 industrial sites far exceeded the levels considered to produce no effect in the receiving waters. One of the highest levels of NPEs was found in the discharge from Kinross wool processor, Todd and Duncan. Their effluent flows into a small stream leading to Loch Leven, which is a National Nature Reserve and supports an important brown trout fishery. Although SEPA have no evidence that the discharges are causing oestrogenic effects in the environment, they have prioritized sites where a reduction in emissions is judged to be ‘environmentally necessary’. The Agency intends to issue discharge consents, and are already negotiating with Todd and Duncan on this matter. SHIRLEY HENDERSON
The Cost of Abandonment A new report from oil industry analysts places the cost of decommissioning oil fields currently in production or earmarked for development on the UK Continental Shelf at f8.4 billion. According to the report, which was produced by Wood Mckenzie, average total abandonment cost is El23 million for the 71 companies with interests on the UK shelf and of the top 22 companies operating on the shelf, 15 have total abandonment costs of between El00 million and g300 million. The top three companies are reported as Shell, Esso and British Petroleum. Apparently Shell has a projected abandonment expenditure of around El.2 billion in 1996 terms. Esso 834
is projected to have the second highest expenditure at El.1 billion, followed closely by BP. The fourth on the list is British Gas with projected abandonment costs in the region of E585 million. Wood Mckenzie reckons that the top three companies account for 40% of the total estimated abandonment liabilities. Over 20 facilities have been decommissioned to date and a further 14 fields can be expected to cease production by the end of the century. However, the report suggests that the majority of field abandonments on the UK shelf will occur in the period between 2007 and 2018. The report also points out that the final abandonment liability for each company will be significantly less than that stated since the figures do not take into account tax rebates. It is thought that this factor may influence the UK government over approval of the Best Practical Environmental Option. What is made clear is that the principal financial beneficiaries of the abandonment process will be the contractors and service companies.
Damages Against Green Indecision A Portuguese fish farmer who has been fighting in the courts for 13 years over the use of his land has been awarded 65 million escudos (267,000) damages by the European Court of Human Rights. The fish farming company, Matos e Silva Lda, had been told by the Portuguese government 13 years before that it would lose the use of half its land in order to form a nature park to help provide protection for migratory birds. This was all part of a plan to form the Ria Formosa nature reserve on the Algarve coast. Rules were therefore applied to the land to ensure protection of the region’s ecosystem. The land required by the government involved fish farming, aquaculture and salt production on land holding concessions since the 19th century. Land appropriation started in 1983 and the main grievance from the company is the extensive delays that have since ensued in decision making regarding the land. Matos e Silva contested many administrative decisions over the years and some of these have still not been resolved. The appeal to the Strasbourg court claimed that the European Convention on Human Rights had been breached because of the delays and problems in the Portuguese courts which had denied the company the right to ‘enjoy its possessions’ and use them for its own purposes. This plea was upheld by the court because the uncertainty had lasted an excessive length of time.
Scuttled Radioactive Waste Riddle Up to 30 vessels laden with radioactive material are believed to have been scuttled in the Mediterranean as part of an elaborate plan to defraud insurers and avoid