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UK waste reaches Arctic
MarinePollutionBulletin servative environment spokesman, said that the ten member states must adhere strictly to the terms of international conventions drawn up to tackle the problem of marine pollution, and the European Commission must play an important role in enforcing these terms, However, Dr Sherlock said he did not agree with the general assertion that disposal on land was always preferable to disposal at sea, as such a statement ignored very significant differences in geography and geology between EEC countries. Dr Sherlock told the Parliament: "The disposal of wastes at sea is frequently the best option on environmental, technical and economic grounds, and one which we believe must be preserved." He went on to explain that Britain's policy was to dump only low level radioactive waste from hospitals or research institutes which was encased in concrete and steel drums and then dumped in an internationally designated area in the Atlantic. Dr Sherlock said: "All dumping carried out by the UK is done in full compliance with our international obligations. If the international community considers that these rules and guidelines need to be altered in the light of experience, we will be prepared to play our part in any such review and will abide by the outcome." He added: "The UK, along with other member states, has a very real interest in the quality of the seas which surround it. Following the recent report from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, we have undertaken to play a full and positive role in the forthcoming conference on North Sea pollution to be convened by the Federal Republic of Germany later this year." Dr Sherlock has written a booklet, on Europe and the Environment, which looks at how the Community has tackled various issues, including water and air pollution, disposal of toxic wastes, research into protecting the environment, and protection of endangered species. Copies are available free from the European Democratic Group, 32 Smith Square, London SW1, UK.
North Sea Pollution 'Chaos' A report on combatting pollution in the North Sea has recently been adopted by the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment. Dutch member Johanna MaijWeggen sets out two priorities in her report: limiting the effects of man's activities and reducing the impact of direct or indirect dumping of toxic wastes in the North Sea. She goes on to criticize the "chaos" that currently exists with respect to the prevention of pollution in the area and calls on the European Commission to draft a "central convention on the protection of the North Sea", to be controlled by a central body and comprising an advisory body representing interested parties. Meanwhile, coincidentally, Germany has just ordered new measures to help combat North Sea pollution. Tanker captains and shipowners found guilty of deliberate oil pollution in the area now face having to pay fines of up to DM 10 000 following the announcement of new regulations. The regulations, already in force, also provide for fines of up to DM50000 for the infringement of rules on keeping specific logs on the transport of oil products by 166
Sea. In addition, failure to notify the authorities of sea pollution could cost up to DM10 000.
Nuclear 'Bore-holes' Proposal A proposal that radioactive waste material could be dumped in holes drilled under the sea bed is being examined by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee of the UK Department of the Environment. The scheme proposed by the British company Ensec involves using a purpose-built drilling rig and the burial of waste in canisters in a bore hole which would be capped by a 500 feet cement column. Since the British Government was forced to halt the dumping of nuclear waste in canisters in the Atlantic, high and low level waste has been stored at nuclear installations until decisions are made about long-term storage locations.
Oil Offenders Come to Light An article in Lloyd's List Special Report The Fight against Marine Pollution says that checks carried out by US authorities in the several months following the coming into force of the Marpol 1973/78 Convention, revealed that almost one-third of ships inspected had 'deficiencies' under the International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate. Many of the 'offenders' did have this vital certificate on board, and 13°70 of the 345 vessels inspected had an incomplete or incorrect Oil Record Book. A recent meeting of IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) was told that between 1977 and 1981 violations of the 1954 Oil Pol Convention-Marpol's predecessor- covered 2451 cases. Reports, however, had been submitted by only 27 of the 69 parties to this convention. Among the proven offences, 1441 concerned illegal discharge and another 363 cases centred on the Oil Record Book.
WAT 84 The 7th International Exhibition on Sewage and Water Disposal (IFAT) will be held in Munich between 22 and 26 May this year. IFAT 84 promises to be the leading international forum for sewage technology and refuse engineering with a total of 750 exhibitors from 13 countries taking part. A record number of participants are expected at IFAT 84 and the 6th European Sewage and Refuse Symposium (EWPCA) and special visitors tours are being arranged.
UK Waste Reaches Arctic Canadian scientists, members of the Canadian Expedition to Study the Alpha Ridge, believe they have found traces of radioactive effluent from the Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, beneath the ice of the Arctic Ocean. Although the particular radioactive isotope was not identified, it is likely to be caesium-137. Scandinavian scientists have already found similar traces of caesium- 137 in the East
Volume 15/Number 5/May 1984
Greenland current, more than would be expected from the atmospheric nuclear bomb tests which have also spread it across the Arctic. Contamination has also been found off the Northern coast of Norway by British scientists. They agree that Sellafield is almost certainly the source of this caesium-137. If all three 'sightings' have the same origin the Canadians' report is interesting as they were working a great deal further away from Cumbria, as the ocean currents flow, than the other two teams.
Pollution's Magnetic 'Fingerprints' Magnetism is being used by a team from the University of Liverpool to measure pollution and track down where it comes from. The technique is cheaper than other methods, and relies on the fact that iron oxide is widely present in pollutants and has a magnetic fingerprint, depending on its source. It was developed by Professor Frank Oldfield of the University of Liverpool, and Dr Roy Thompson, from the University of Edinburgh. Samples can be taken from the atmosphere, sea and river water, or the sediment at the bottom of harbours and rivers. In developing the technique, Professor Oldfield was able to trace the dispersal of waste discharged from an iron and steel works into the Elfis Gulf in Greece. Richard Maxted, an advisory officer with the Environmental Advisory Unit, says that the potential commercial areas being investigated are: atmospheric monitoring; tracing pollution in rivers, and the sea; studying soil erosion and tracking silt, sand and shale.
Yacht Paint Toxins Damage Shellf'tsh Shellfish in estuary waters around Britain are under threat from the undersides of yachts. Antifouling paints traditionally used on the hulls of yachts are causing the death or deformity of significant numbers of shellfish, especially along Britain's south coast where the yachting population is highest. According to scientists at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the paint, which slowly releases toxins into the water inhibiting marine growth, contains tin-based compounds which can in turn be deadly to many kinds of marine life and their larvae. Oyster samples taken from the River Dart showed a high level of tributyl tin which, say the MAFF scientists at the Burnhamon-Crouch fisheries laboratory, explains the poor growth rates in recent years. The Pacific oyster has been found to be particularly sensitive to TBT. In addition, the gradual disappearance of winkles, cockles, mussels and shrimps from areas along the south coast is blamed on chemicals leaking from antifouling
paints with shellfish growers claiming that their livelihoods are threatened. Some growers have moved stock to less polluted rivers but this is not possible for all of them. Meanwhile the Shellfish Association of Great Britain is lobbying Government departments and MPs in a bid to bring about a ban on the use of paints containing TBT. The paint manufacturers have also expressed concern at the problem. A spokesman for International Paints said a ban on TBT antifouling paints would mean a return to the copper compounds used previously, and these could prove equally damaging to shellfish at high levels of concentration.
Aquatic Toxicity The Eleventh Annual Aquatic Toxicity Workshop will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, 13-15 November 1984. The workshop will include a plenary session on the effects of mine wastes on aquatic systems, contributed and invited papers and poster sessions. For further information contact: Dr Glen H. Geen, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada, V5A 1$6.
Round-the-World News UK Recent results from monitoring the beaches near the nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield, in Cumbria, have raised doubts about the safety of routine discharges from the plant into the sea. The report by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) shows that, since the accidental discharges of highly radioactive solvents last November, contamination of the beach has not declined, in fact radioactive 'tar' has appeared, which could be due to further routine releases. The report suggest two other possible causes: that the contamination was already on the beach and has been uncovered by tide and wind, and that the 'tar' has been in the sea since November and is only now being washed ashore.
Scotland Evidence of radioactivity which has been found on beaches near the UK Atomic Energy Authority's reactor at Dounreay in Scotland is thought to be the result of contamination arising from maintenance work carried out some time ago on a pipeline which carries low-level liquid wastes from the plant to the sea. Dounreay has a small plant which reprocesses spent fuel from the fast breeder reactor and the authority believes that the spots of radioactivity contain fission products with low levels of radioactivity.
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North Sea Pollution 'Chaos' A report on combatting pollution in the North Sea has recently been adopted by the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment. Dutch member Johanna MaijWeggen sets out two priorities in her report: limiting the effects of man's activities and reducing the impact of direct or indirect dumping of toxic wastes in the North Sea. She goes on to criticize the "chaos" that currently exists with respect to the prevention of pollution in the area and calls on the European Commission to draft a "central convention on the protection of the North Sea", to be controlled by a central body and comprising an advisory body representing interested parties. Meanwhile, coincidentally, Germany has just ordered new measures to help combat North Sea pollution. Tanker captains and shipowners found guilty of deliberate oil pollution in the area now face having to pay fines of up to DM 10 000 following the announcement of new regulations. The regulations, already in force, also provide for fines of up to DM50000 for the infringement of rules on keeping specific logs on the transport of oil products by 166
Sea. In addition, failure to notify the authorities of sea pollution could cost up to DM10 000.
Nuclear 'Bore-holes' Proposal A proposal that radioactive waste material could be dumped in holes drilled under the sea bed is being examined by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee of the UK Department of the Environment. The scheme proposed by the British company Ensec involves using a purpose-built drilling rig and the burial of waste in canisters in a bore hole which would be capped by a 500 feet cement column. Since the British Government was forced to halt the dumping of nuclear waste in canisters in the Atlantic, high and low level waste has been stored at nuclear installations until decisions are made about long-term storage locations.
Oil Offenders Come to Light An article in Lloyd's List Special Report The Fight against Marine Pollution says that checks carried out by US authorities in the several months following the coming into force of the Marpol 1973/78 Convention, revealed that almost one-third of ships inspected had 'deficiencies' under the International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate. Many of the 'offenders' did have this vital certificate on board, and 13°70 of the 345 vessels inspected had an incomplete or incorrect Oil Record Book. A recent meeting of IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) was told that between 1977 and 1981 violations of the 1954 Oil Pol Convention-Marpol's predecessor- covered 2451 cases. Reports, however, had been submitted by only 27 of the 69 parties to this convention. Among the proven offences, 1441 concerned illegal discharge and another 363 cases centred on the Oil Record Book.
WAT 84 The 7th International Exhibition on Sewage and Water Disposal (IFAT) will be held in Munich between 22 and 26 May this year. IFAT 84 promises to be the leading international forum for sewage technology and refuse engineering with a total of 750 exhibitors from 13 countries taking part. A record number of participants are expected at IFAT 84 and the 6th European Sewage and Refuse Symposium (EWPCA) and special visitors tours are being arranged.
UK Waste Reaches Arctic Canadian scientists, members of the Canadian Expedition to Study the Alpha Ridge, believe they have found traces of radioactive effluent from the Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, beneath the ice of the Arctic Ocean. Although the particular radioactive isotope was not identified, it is likely to be caesium-137. Scandinavian scientists have already found similar traces of caesium- 137 in the East
Volume 15/Number 5/May 1984
Greenland current, more than would be expected from the atmospheric nuclear bomb tests which have also spread it across the Arctic. Contamination has also been found off the Northern coast of Norway by British scientists. They agree that Sellafield is almost certainly the source of this caesium-137. If all three 'sightings' have the same origin the Canadians' report is interesting as they were working a great deal further away from Cumbria, as the ocean currents flow, than the other two teams.
Pollution's Magnetic 'Fingerprints' Magnetism is being used by a team from the University of Liverpool to measure pollution and track down where it comes from. The technique is cheaper than other methods, and relies on the fact that iron oxide is widely present in pollutants and has a magnetic fingerprint, depending on its source. It was developed by Professor Frank Oldfield of the University of Liverpool, and Dr Roy Thompson, from the University of Edinburgh. Samples can be taken from the atmosphere, sea and river water, or the sediment at the bottom of harbours and rivers. In developing the technique, Professor Oldfield was able to trace the dispersal of waste discharged from an iron and steel works into the Elfis Gulf in Greece. Richard Maxted, an advisory officer with the Environmental Advisory Unit, says that the potential commercial areas being investigated are: atmospheric monitoring; tracing pollution in rivers, and the sea; studying soil erosion and tracking silt, sand and shale.
Yacht Paint Toxins Damage Shellf'tsh Shellfish in estuary waters around Britain are under threat from the undersides of yachts. Antifouling paints traditionally used on the hulls of yachts are causing the death or deformity of significant numbers of shellfish, especially along Britain's south coast where the yachting population is highest. According to scientists at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the paint, which slowly releases toxins into the water inhibiting marine growth, contains tin-based compounds which can in turn be deadly to many kinds of marine life and their larvae. Oyster samples taken from the River Dart showed a high level of tributyl tin which, say the MAFF scientists at the Burnhamon-Crouch fisheries laboratory, explains the poor growth rates in recent years. The Pacific oyster has been found to be particularly sensitive to TBT. In addition, the gradual disappearance of winkles, cockles, mussels and shrimps from areas along the south coast is blamed on chemicals leaking from antifouling
paints with shellfish growers claiming that their livelihoods are threatened. Some growers have moved stock to less polluted rivers but this is not possible for all of them. Meanwhile the Shellfish Association of Great Britain is lobbying Government departments and MPs in a bid to bring about a ban on the use of paints containing TBT. The paint manufacturers have also expressed concern at the problem. A spokesman for International Paints said a ban on TBT antifouling paints would mean a return to the copper compounds used previously, and these could prove equally damaging to shellfish at high levels of concentration.
Aquatic Toxicity The Eleventh Annual Aquatic Toxicity Workshop will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, 13-15 November 1984. The workshop will include a plenary session on the effects of mine wastes on aquatic systems, contributed and invited papers and poster sessions. For further information contact: Dr Glen H. Geen, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada, V5A 1$6.
Round-the-World News UK Recent results from monitoring the beaches near the nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield, in Cumbria, have raised doubts about the safety of routine discharges from the plant into the sea. The report by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) shows that, since the accidental discharges of highly radioactive solvents last November, contamination of the beach has not declined, in fact radioactive 'tar' has appeared, which could be due to further routine releases. The report suggest two other possible causes: that the contamination was already on the beach and has been uncovered by tide and wind, and that the 'tar' has been in the sea since November and is only now being washed ashore.
Scotland Evidence of radioactivity which has been found on beaches near the UK Atomic Energy Authority's reactor at Dounreay in Scotland is thought to be the result of contamination arising from maintenance work carried out some time ago on a pipeline which carries low-level liquid wastes from the plant to the sea. Dounreay has a small plant which reprocesses spent fuel from the fast breeder reactor and the authority believes that the spots of radioactivity contain fission products with low levels of radioactivity.
167