Environmental Impacts of Boating Pollutants

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental Impacts of Boating Pollutants

  

(Unless otherwise stated, material is from Connell and Miller 1984) Pollutant	Sources and Characteristics	Environmental Activity	Environmental or Human Health Effects
Detergents	 Most cleaning agents, detergents and soaps  Oil spill dispersants 29  Breaks down oils and greases on boats	 Accumulates in sediments  Broken down by microorganisms	 Toxic to marine plants and animals  Impairs breathing in fish 18  Reduces amounts of oxygen in affected waters  Produces unsightly foam on the water surface
Marine debris	 Commercial and recreational boating 11  Plastics, food wastes, packaging, lines, nets, fish cleaning wastes 3  Plastics degrade very slowly  Some wastes become nutrients (see "Nutrients")		 Can choke / strangle sea animals 3, 11  Ghosts nets, and traps endanger divers 3  Can transport harmful non native species 11  Snagged by props and engines 3  Ruins recreational beaches 11
Acidic & Alkalis Substances	 Battery acid, lye and other strong acids or bases in vessel cleaning products 13  Dissolves easily in water	 Increases natural acidity or alkalinity of water by decreasing or increasing pH respectively	 Toxic to marine plants and animals  Increases the toxicity of other toxic substances, metals, other pollutants and chemicals  Can irritate or damage skin
Metals	 Paint particles from hydro washing, metal shavings from engine wear, and consumer products containing metals  Dissolves according to water conditions	 Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals  Persistent in the environment  Some metals broken down by microorganisms	 Toxic to marine plants and animals  Changes the food web in the marine environment by eliminating certain species
Copper (Cu)	 Used as a toxic agent in antifouling paints  Dissolves according to water conditions	 Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals  Persistent in the environment	 Very toxic to fish when combined with zinc sulfates 16  Long term toxicity to marine plants and animals
Tributlytin (TBT)	 Still used as a toxic agent in antifouling paint on aluminum hulls, outboard motors & lower drive units 4, 16	 Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals 16  Persistent in the environment	 Toxic even in small amounts to marine plants and animals, especially bottom feeders 16  TBT contaminated shellfish are dangerous to

Zinc (Zn)	 Anticorrosive zincs and paint pigments  Dissolves according to water conditions, which can make Zn more available to marine organisms 16	 Persistent in the environment	 Toxic to marine plants and animals, even small amounts 15
Oil / Fuel	 Normal boat operation, fueling, engine maintenance, spills, runoff, and bilge discharge  Dissolves slowly in water, clings to particles and sediments in marine environments	 Broken down by sediment microorganisms22  Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals  High accumulation in estuaries and intertidal areas	 Some components toxic to marine plants and animals even at low concentrations 24  Some components cause cancer, mutations and / or birth defects  Behavioral changes in shellfish and fish 24  Discoloring and bad taste in flesh of fish 20, 25, 26
Dusts and sediments	 Vessel scraping and sanding, erosion during construction and urban runoff  Heavy metals, nutrients, hydrocarbons, etc. adhere to dusts and sediments	 Sediment bound contaminants released to water if disturbed	 General lowering of water quality  Burial of habitat, food and / or organisms
Nutrients	 Runoff, sewage, erosion, garbage & detergents containing (P)hosphorous or (N)itrogen	 Used by marine plants and organisms for food (P,N)  Accumulates in sediment (P)	 Increase in algae growth which decreases light and oxygen in the water (eutrophication)  (N) can be toxic in higher concentrations
Solvents	 Vessel maintenance & repair activities  Paints, varnishes, paint removers and lacquers as well as degreasing agents  Does not dissolve in water 13	 Sink in water until they reach an impervious surface  Acetone lingers in air and is transported to sediment & water	 Large amounts can cause dizziness, disorientation and unconsciousness in the user 2
Anti-freeze	 Used as engine coolant and freeze prevention during winter storage  Improper use & storage creates leaks or spills 13	 Fate similar to solvents 13	 Ethylene glycol is deadly to humans, pets & marine organisms in low doses 2  Propylene glycol (orange/pink color) is less toxic than ethylene glycol (blue/green color) and is preferred for use in boats 7

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