In order to reduce particulate matter from exhaust emissions, sulphur oxide scrubber technology has been introduced in shipping to filter these emissions. However, the use of open-loop scrubbers results in the discharge of some pollutants (e.g. copper and zinc) into surface waters. This is causing problems, as the levels of copper and zinc in some coastal areas already exceed environmental quality standards. Little is known about the ecological effects on marine life and biogeochemical processes, but the accumulation of metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been shown to affect the growth, consumption and reproduction of marine life.
Open-loop scrubbers discharge pollutants
In order to reduce particulate matter from exhaust emissions, sulphur oxide scrubber technology has been introduced in shipping to filter these emissions. However, the use of open-loop scrubbers results in the discharge of some pollutants (e.g. copper and zinc) into surface waters. This is causing problems, as the levels of copper and zinc in some coastal areas already exceed environmental quality standards. Little is known about the ecological effects on marine life and biogeochemical processes, but the accumulation of metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been shown to affect the growth, consumption and reproduction of marine life.
Nº 106
- Climate & Atmosphere
- Transport Emission Reduction
- Reduction of Shipping Emissions
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made
None
Open-loop scrubbers discharge pollutants
- The problem-shift had no effect on the efforts to address the initial problem
- Singular (only one effect)
David R. Turner, Ida-Maja Hassellöv, Erik Ytreberg, Anna Rutgersson; Shipping and the environment: Smokestack emissions, scrubbers and unregulated oceanic consequences. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 1 January 2017; 5 45. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.167
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