Environmental impact of shipwrecks in the North Sea: II. Negative aspects: hazardous substances in shipwrecks
Leewis, R.J. (1991). Environmental impact of shipwrecks in the North Sea: II. Negative aspects: hazardous substances in shipwrecks. Wat. Sci. Tech. 24(10): 299-300
In: Water Science and Technology. IWA Publishing: Oxford. ISSN 0273-1223, more
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Keywords |
Environmental impact assessments; Hazardous materials; Marine environment; Poisonous gases; Shipwrecks; Transportation; Water pollution; Marine |
Abstract |
Recently a number of sinkings of ships with hazardous (toxic) cargoes, and the subsequent salvages, have got extensive press coverage. It is well known that ships can contain a number of potentially toxic or otherwise ecologically hazardous substances. These could include various kinds of cargo, oil in several systems, copper pipes, other metals, plastics and antifouling paints. Two groups of substances deserve special attention: poison gases and polychlorinated biphenyls. It is not just the recent transport of hazardous cargoes by ships that causes a threat to the marine environment. It is important to try to assess the ootential effects of the inheritance left by past generations as precisely as possible, because action may be necessary. |
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