A New Perspective at the Ship-Air-Sea-Interface: The Environmental Impacts of Exhaust Gas Scrubber Discharge

Endres, Sonja; Maes, Frank; Hopkins, Frances E.; Houghton, Katherine; Mårtensson, E. M.; Oeffner, Johannes; Quack, Birgit; Singh, Pradeep; Turner, David R.

doi:10.3389/fmars.2018.00139

Cited by 66 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…metals and PAHs in the fuel and larger emissions during combustion of this residual fuel [15]. Several studies report that scrubbers reduce the atmospheric emissions of SO x or PM to a level that is comparable to emissions when operating on MGO [16][17][18][19][20]. However, PM emissions and removal by scrubbers depend on many factors and lower removal efficiencies from scrubbers resulting in higher emissions of particles including black carbon and PAHs compared to vessels operating on MGO have been reported [21,22].…”

Section: −mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, PM emissions and removal by scrubbers depend on many factors and lower removal efficiencies from scrubbers resulting in higher emissions of particles including black carbon and PAHs compared to vessels operating on MGO have been reported [21,22]. In addition, scrubbers are an end-of-pipe solution and a substantial part of the emitted compounds will be trapped in the scrubber washwater and discharged in the surrounding surface water with potential consequences for aquatic ecosystems [18,[23][24][25][26]. Existing studies are limited, mainly focus on open marine systems and conclude that the overall impact of scrubber use on pH changes and contaminant concentrations is expected to be small under most conditions [24,[27][28][29].…”

Section: −mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Metal concentrations in fuels are known to vary substantially and are related to the crude oil origin and refinery process [39]. Since a substantial part of the metals in the fuel is expected to end up in the scrubber washwater [16,18], the fuel origin will directly affect the washwater metal concentrations. Vessels with scrubbers usually operate on high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO).…”

Section: Scrubber Washwater Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The impact of scrubber discharge on the water quality in estuaries and ports

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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 harbour 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 acutely 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.

show abstract

Section: −mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: −mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Scrubber Washwater Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The impact of scrubber discharge on the water quality in estuaries and ports

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…metals and PAHs in the fuel and larger emissions during combustion of this residual fuel . Several studies report that scrubbers reduce the atmospheric emissions of SOx or PM to a level that is comparable to emissions when operating on MGO [16][17][18][19][20] . However, PM emissions and removal by scrubbers depend on many factors and lower removal efficiencies from scrubbers resulting in higher emissions of particles including black carbon and PAHs compared to vessels operating on MGO have been reported 21,22 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of scrubber discharge on the water quality in estuaries and ports

Teuchies

Cox

Itterbeeck

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

“…The increased costs associated with high-quality, low-sulfur content fuel oil have shaped scrubber technology to be an attractive and viable alternative especially for larger vessels that still use HFO (Lindstad and Eskeland 2016). However, little is known about the chemical composition of the scrubber effluent and its ecological consequences for marine life and biogeochemical processes (Endres et al 2018). Ecotoxicological studies on marine pollutants (e.g., metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) imply that scrubber wash water could have a harmful effect on marine organisms and marine ecosystems (Ivanina and Sokolova 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Monodisciplinary via Multidisciplinary to an Interdisciplinary Approach Investigating Air-Sea Interactions – a SOLAS Initiative

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding the physical and biogeochemical interactions and feedbacks between the ocean and atmosphere is a vital component of environmental and Earth system research. The ability to predict and respond to future environmental change relies on a detailed understanding of these processes. The Surface Ocean-Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) is an international research platform that focuses on the study of ocean-atmosphere interactions, for which Future Earth is a sponsor. SOLAS instigated a collaborative initiative process to connect efforts in the natural and social sciences related to these processes, as a contribution to the emerging Future Earth Ocean Knowledge-Action Network (Ocean KAN). This is imperative because many of the recent changes in the Earth system are anthropogenic. An understanding of adaptation and counteracting measures requires an alliance of scientists from both domains to bridge the gap between science and policy. To this end, three SOLAS research areas were targeted for a case study to determine a more effective method of interdisciplinary research: valuing carbon

show abstract

A New Perspective at the Ship-Air-Sea-Interface: The Environmental Impacts of Exhaust Gas Scrubber Discharge

Cited by 66 publications

References 47 publications

The impact of scrubber discharge on the water quality in estuaries and ports

The impact of scrubber discharge on the water quality in estuaries and ports

The impact of scrubber discharge on the water quality in estuaries and ports

From Monodisciplinary via Multidisciplinary to an Interdisciplinary Approach Investigating Air-Sea Interactions – a SOLAS Initiative

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About