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1.
Mar Pollut Bull ; 43(1-6): 1-7, 2001.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11601527

ABSTRACT

An international demonstration (RD&D) project for ocean storage of radioactive wastes should be proposed, to study the feasibility of the concept of ocean storage of nuclear waste. This international project should utilize the scientific, engineering and technical capabilities of selected universities, oceanographic institutions, NGOs and industries. This project would need to be an independent (non-governmental) study, utilizing the capabilities of selected universities, oceanographic institutions, environmental NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and industries. Scientists and engineers first need to conduct an engineering, environmental, and economic feasibility study of the concept. The goal of the project would be to determine if ocean-based storage reduced the risks to the environment and public health to a greater degree than land-based storage. This would require comparing the risks and factors involved and making the data and information available to anyone, anywhere, anytime on the internet. The mere presence of an investigation of the ocean storage option could facilitate scientific and engineering competition between the two options, could subsequently reduce environmental and public risks and provide better protection and cost benefits in the system utilized. One of the primary concerns of the scientific community would be related to the sensitivity and precision of the monitoring of individaul containers on the ocean bottom. An advantage of the land-based option is that if there is a release, its presence could be detected at very low levels and be contained in the storage facility. On the ocean bottom, a release from a container might not be easily detected due to dispersion. Therefore the containment system would have to be a system within a system with monitoring between the two providing greater protection. Ocean storage may have greater technical and political hurdles than land-based options, but it may provide greater protection over time, because it negates the threat of terrorism, it therefore merit further study. In the future if the use of nuclear energy and nuclear wastes increases, the global society could benefit from this international project, because it could reduce environmental and public health risks and promote energy independence.


Subject(s)
Radioactive Waste , Arctic Regions , Environmental Exposure/prevention & control , Humans , International Cooperation , Oceans and Seas , Public Health , Risk Factors , Water Pollution, Radioactive/analysis , Water Pollution, Radioactive/prevention & control
2.
Mar Pollut Bull ; 42(11): 1017-30, 2001 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11763212

ABSTRACT

Trace organic (chlorinated pesticides, PCBs, PAHs and dioxins/furans) and trace metal concentrations were measured in surficial sediment and biological tissues (i.e., worms, crustaceans, bivalve molluscs, and fish livers) collected from the Russian Arctic. Total DDT, chlordane, PCB and PAH concentrations ranged from ND to 1.2, ND to <0.1, ND to 1.5 and <20-810 ng g(-1), respectively, in a suite of 40 surficial sediment samples from the Kara Sea and the adjacent Ob and Yenisey Rivers. High sedimentary concentrations of contaminants were found in the lower part of the Yenisey River below the salt wedge. Total dioxins/furans were analysed in a subset of 20 sediment samples and ranged from 1.4 to 410 pg g(-1). The highest trace organic contaminant concentrations were found in organisms, particularly fish livers. Concentrations as high as 89 ng g(-1) chlordane; 1010 ng g(-1) total DDTs; 460 ng g(-1) total PCBs; and 1110 ng g(-1) total PAH, were detected. A subset of 11 tissue samples was analysed for dioxins and furans with total concentrations ranging from 12 to 61 pg g(-1). Concentrations of many trace organic and metal contaminants in the Kara Sea appear to originate from riverine sources and atmospheric transport from more temperate areas. Most organic contaminant concentrations in sediments were low; however, contaminants are being concentrated in organisms and may pose a health hazard for inhabitants of coastal villages.


Subject(s)
Environmental Pollutants/pharmacokinetics , Insecticides/analysis , Polychlorinated Biphenyls/analysis , Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Animals , Dioxins/analysis , Dioxins/pharmacokinetics , Environmental Monitoring , Environmental Pollutants/analysis , Fishes , Furans/analysis , Furans/pharmacokinetics , Geologic Sediments/chemistry , Insecticides/pharmacokinetics , Liver/chemistry , Polychlorinated Biphenyls/pharmacokinetics , Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/pharmacokinetics , Russia , Tissue Distribution , Water Pollutants, Chemical/pharmacokinetics
3.
Sci Total Environ ; 258(1-2): 21-71, 2000 Aug 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11007277

ABSTRACT

Achieving consensus on equitable and effective national and global regulation(s) for the use of organotins as biocides in antifouling boat bottom paints has proven to be very complex and difficult for a variety of reasons as discussed in this paper. There appears to be broad agreement among stakeholders about the effectiveness of tributyltin (TBT) in antifouling paints. A draft Assembly Resolution prepared by the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to propose a global ban on the use of organotins in antifouling paints was approved by the IMO at its 21st regular session (November 1999). In approving the Resolution, the Assembly agreed that a legally binding instrument (global convention--an international treaty) be developed by the Marine Environmental Protection Committee that should ensure by 1 January 2003, a ban on the application of tributyltin (TBT)-based antifouling paints; and 1 January 2008 as the last date for having TBT-based antifouling paint on a vessel. The Assembly also agreed that a diplomatic conference be held in 2001 to consider adoption of the international legal instrument. Monitoring, policing, enforcement, fines and record-keeping are yet to be defined. In addition, the MEPC has also proposed that IMO promotes the use of environmentally-safe anti-fouling technologies to replace TBT. Existing national regulations in the US and Europe have: (1) restricted the use of TBT in antifouling boat bottom paints by vessel size (less than 25 m in length), thus eliminating TBT from the smaller and recreational vessels that exist in shallow coastal waters where the impacted oysters species grow; (2) restricted the release rates of TBT from co-polymer paints; and (3) eliminated the use of free TBT in paints. The present movement toward a global ban suggests that the above regulatory approach has not been sufficient in some countries. Advocates of the ban cite international findings of: (1) higher levels of TBT in surface waters of ports and open waters; (2) imposex still occurring and affecting a larger number of snail species; (3) TBT bioaccumulation in selected fisheries; and (4) the availability of 'comparable' alternatives (to TBT) with less environmental impact. The global ban has been absent of a policy debate on the: (1) lack of 'acceptable and approved' alternatives in many nations; (2) appreciation of market forces in nations without TBT regulations; (3) full consideration of the economic benefits from the use of TBT; (4) 'acceptance' of environmental impacts in marinas, ports and harbors; and (5) realization of the 'real' time period required by ships for antifoulant protection (is 5-7 years necessary or desirable?). Estimates of fuel savings range from $500 million to one billion. In assessing the environmental impact from TBT, there are two sources: the shipyard painting vessels and the painted vessel itself. Today vessels can be painted with regulated or banned antifouling materials by boatyards in a country that does not have TBT regulations and subsequently travel in international and regulated national waters and thus bringing the impact back to the country which was trying to prevent it. Worse, local and national regulations for TBT have proven to be the antithesis of the popular environmental cliché--'Think Globally and Act Locally.' Legislative policies enacted by 'regulated' countries to regulate the use of TBT to protect (their) local marine resources have subsequently had far reaching environmental and economic impacts which have in essence transferred TBT contamination to those countries least able to deal with it. Market forces are selective for cheap labor and cheap environments. 'Unregulated' countries have unknowingly accepted the environmental and human health risks to gain the economic benefits from painting TBT on ships. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)


Subject(s)
Organotin Compounds/adverse effects , Public Policy , Trialkyltin Compounds/adverse effects , Water Pollutants, Chemical/adverse effects , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Eukaryota , Global Health , Humans , Organotin Compounds/economics , Ships , Trialkyltin Compounds/economics
4.
Bull Environ Contam Toxicol ; 16(1): 71-80, 1976 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-822906

ABSTRACT

Populations of Euglena gracilis in exponential growth under light were exposed to 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 ppm of Aroclor 1221. The ID50/48 of Aroclor 1221 was estimated to be 4.4 ppm, while Aroclor 1232 tested at 20, 35, 50, and 100 ppm resulted in an id50/48 of 55 ppm. With Aroclor 1242, no inhibition of growth was observed with up to 100 ppm exposure. Cell cultures exposed to 4.4 ppm of Aroclor 1221 for 48 hrs had a significantly reduced rate of carbon fixation and reduced levels of chlorophyll after correction for cell density. Oxygen consumption was not affected at the ID50 level of the Aroclor. Uptake of [3H]-leucine in treated cultures was twice that of controls, and [3H]-uridine uptake was significantly lower. Uptake of [3H]-thymidine, and incorporation of [3H]-leucine, [3H]-thymidine, and [3H]-uridine were not significantly different in treated and control cultures. Thes results suggest that at the ID50 level, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) reduce cell population growth in Euglena gracilis by inhibition of photosynthesis and/or chlorophyll production.


Subject(s)
Carbon/metabolism , Chlorophyll/metabolism , DNA/biosynthesis , Euglena gracilis/drug effects , Oxygen Consumption/drug effects , Polychlorinated Biphenyls/toxicity , Proteins/metabolism , RNA/biosynthesis , Animals , Cell Division/drug effects , Polychlorinated Biphenyls/pharmacology
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