Recommendations for coastal closure

11-Apr-2014 - Germany

oils or chemical products that have been washed up on to coasts and beaches not only cause pollution but may also pose a health risk.

Contamination with mineral oil products such as tar which are known as black lumps found on beaches has clearly decreased in recent decades. However, alluvial deposits of sticky substances or mushy puddles are seen more and more often. These are due to discharges of cargo residues from tankers or rinsing of cargo tanks. Especially large quantities can be released into the sea following disasters.

Some substances can be carcinogenic or dangerous for pregnant women, whereas others irritate the skin and the eyes, unless they are immediately removed by rinsing.

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The recommendations were drawn up by the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP), which includes representatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).

For this purpose, the health hazards of about 800 chemicals were assessed on the basis of scientific literature and manufacturers’ testing.

Documentation, often confidential, available to the International Maritime Organization regarding bulk liquids transported in chemical tankers was used. In addition to poisoning potential and acute toxicity the long-term adverse healthrisks of these substances including their carcinogenic and mutagenic characteristics as well as toxicity to reproduction (chronic toxicity) were taken into account. The current list includes the most important bulk liquids that are transported in chemical tankers and NLS (noxious liquid substance) tankers. The health risks of these substances are subdivided into four rating categories in order to enable appropriate measures:

Rating 0 – None

Rating 1 – Warning issued but no closure of amenities

Rating 2 – Warning issued and possible closure of amenities

Rating 3 – Warning issued leading to the closure of amenities

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