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Johannes Teuchies
Universiteit Antwerpen
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9633-5603
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Background: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set limits on sulphur content in fuels for marine transport. However, vessels continue to use these residual high sulphur fuels in combination with exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS or scrubbers). Next to high sulphur, combustion of these fuels also results in higher emissions of contaminants including metals and PAHs. In scrubbers, exhaust gases are sprayed with water in order to remove SOx, resulting in acidic washwater with elevated contaminant concentrations discharged in the aquatic ecosystem. The number of vessels with scrubbers is increasing rapidly, but knowledge on washwater quality and impact are limited.
Results: The scrubber washwater is found to be acidic with elevated concentrations of e.g. zinc, vanadium, copper, nickel, phenanthrene, naphthalene, fluorene and fluoranthene. Model calculations on the effects of scrubber discharge under scenario HIGH (20% of vessels, 90th percentile concentrations) on the water quality in harbor docks showed a decrease in pH of 0.015 units and an increase in surface water concentrations for e.g. naphthalene (189% increase) and vanadium (46% increase).
Conclusions: The IMO established sulphur regulations to mitigate the impact of high sulphur emissions of the maritime sector. However, the use of open loop scrubbers as an abatement technology will not reduce their contribution to ocean acidification. In addition, different types of scrubbers discharge washwater that is acute toxic for aquatic organisms. However, washwater is diluted and the compounds for which a large increase in surface water concentrations was calculated in the Antwerp (Belgium) harbour docks (Naphthalene > Phenanthrene > Fluorene > Acenaphthene > Vanadium) were not the compounds that already exceed their respective Water Quality Standards (WQS). Nevertheless, the WQS of several ‘priority hazardous substances’ (Water Framework Directive) are already exceeded in the docks and the Scheldt estuary. Since these hazardous substances are also identified in the washwater, scrubber washwater discharge should be discouraged in coastal waters and estuaries with large ecological value.
Keywords
marine traffic, pollution, EGCS, SECAs, water quality, acidification
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Environmental Sciences Europe.
Version 2
Posted 15 Jul, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 10 Jul, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 10 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 09 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 09 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #3 received
Received 26 May, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 26 May, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 25 May, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 20 May, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 05 May, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 29 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 26 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Apr, 2020
Editor assigned
On 23 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 22 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 18 Apr, 2020
First submitted
On 17 Apr, 2020
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PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Environmental Policy
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A new preprint design is coming!
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See the published version of this preprint at Environmental Sciences Europe.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Johannes Teuchies
Universiteit Antwerpen
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9633-5603
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Environmental Sciences Europe.
Version 2
Posted 15 Jul, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 10 Jul, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 10 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 09 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 09 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #3 received
Received 26 May, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 26 May, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 25 May, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 20 May, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 05 May, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 29 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 26 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Apr, 2020
Editor assigned
On 23 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 22 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 18 Apr, 2020
First submitted
On 17 Apr, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Environmental Policy
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at Environmental Sciences Europe.
Background: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set limits on sulphur content in fuels for marine transport. However, vessels continue to use these residual high sulphur fuels in combination with exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS or scrubbers). Next to high sulphur, combustion of these fuels also results in higher emissions of contaminants including metals and PAHs. In scrubbers, exhaust gases are sprayed with water in order to remove SOx, resulting in acidic washwater with elevated contaminant concentrations discharged in the aquatic ecosystem. The number of vessels with scrubbers is increasing rapidly, but knowledge on washwater quality and impact are limited.
Results: The scrubber washwater is found to be acidic with elevated concentrations of e.g. zinc, vanadium, copper, nickel, phenanthrene, naphthalene, fluorene and fluoranthene. Model calculations on the effects of scrubber discharge under scenario HIGH (20% of vessels, 90th percentile concentrations) on the water quality in harbor docks showed a decrease in pH of 0.015 units and an increase in surface water concentrations for e.g. naphthalene (189% increase) and vanadium (46% increase).
Conclusions: The IMO established sulphur regulations to mitigate the impact of high sulphur emissions of the maritime sector. However, the use of open loop scrubbers as an abatement technology will not reduce their contribution to ocean acidification. In addition, different types of scrubbers discharge washwater that is acute toxic for aquatic organisms. However, washwater is diluted and the compounds for which a large increase in surface water concentrations was calculated in the Antwerp (Belgium) harbour docks (Naphthalene > Phenanthrene > Fluorene > Acenaphthene > Vanadium) were not the compounds that already exceed their respective Water Quality Standards (WQS). Nevertheless, the WQS of several ‘priority hazardous substances’ (Water Framework Directive) are already exceeded in the docks and the Scheldt estuary. Since these hazardous substances are also identified in the washwater, scrubber washwater discharge should be discouraged in coastal waters and estuaries with large ecological value.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
The full text of this article is available to read as a PDF.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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