Identification of marine chemical contaminants released from sea-based sources A review focusing on regulatory aspects Victoria Tornero, Georg Hanke 2016 EUR 28039 EN 1 This publication is a Technical report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s science and knowledge service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policy-making process. The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of this publication. Contact information Name: Victoria Tornero Address: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Directorate D Sustainable Resources, Unit D2-Water and Marine Resources, Enrico Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: +39 0332 78 9562 JRC Science Hub https://ec.europa.eu/jrc JRC 102452 EUR 28039 EN PDF ISBN 978-92-79-60688-5 ISSN 1831-9424 doi:10.2788/258216 Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2016 © European Union, 2016 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. How to cite: Tornero V; Hanke G. Identification of marine chemical contaminants released from sea-based sources: A review focusing on regulatory aspects. EUR 28039. Luxembourg (Luxembourg): Publications Office of the European Union; 2016. JRC102452 All images © European Union 2016, except cover source: Georg Hanke Printed in Italy Table of contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................ 1 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 2 2 MATERIAL AND METHODS ..................................................................................................... 4 3 CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS RELEASED FROM SEA-BASED SOURCES ................ 5 3.1 OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION ......................... 5 3.1.1 Operational discharges: drilling waste and produced waters ................. 6 3.1.2 Accidental spills ......................................................................................................... 9 3.1.3 Atmospheric emissions ......................................................................................... 10 3.1.1 Decommissioning of offshore installations ................................................... 10 3.2 SHIPPING........................................................................................................................... 11 3.2.1 Accidental spills of oil and other chemicals .................................................. 11 3.2.2 Operational discharges ......................................................................................... 14 3.2.3 Release of biocides from antifouling paints ................................................. 14 3.2.1 Air pollution .............................................................................................................. 16 3.3 MARICULTURE ................................................................................................................. 35 3.3.1 Medicinal products ................................................................................................. 35 3.3.2 Food additives and contaminants .................................................................... 54 3.3.3 Antifouling biocides ................................................................................................ 54 3.4 DREDGING AND DUMPING OF DREDGED MATERIAL ....................................... 54 3.5 HISTORICAL DUMPING SITES ................................................................................... 55 3.5.1 Munitions and chemical weapons ..................................................................... 56 3.6 OFFSHORE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION ................................................ 68 3.7 SHIPWRECKS ................................................................................................................... 68 3.8 SEABED MINING ............................................................................................................. 69 4 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................ 71 5 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................. 104 References ...................................................................................................................................... 105 List of abbreviations and definitions ..................................................................................... 121 List of figures ................................................................................................................................. 124 List of tables ................................................................................................................................... 125 Abstract The monitoring of chemical contaminants, as required by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Descriptor 8, should allow for the seamless protection of the marine environment against chemical pollution. A list of priority substances (PS) at EU level is provided under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) for coastal and territorial waters. EU Member States may also identify in their coastal waters substances of national or local concern (River Basin Specific Pollutants, RBSP). The MSFD provisions foresee the consid- eration of contaminants that are not covered by the WFD, but entail a significant risk to, or via, the marine environment. A close collaboration with Regional Sea Conventions is crucial, as contaminants cross national and EU borders. Chemical substances occurring in the marine environment might derive from specific sea- based sources, such as shipping, mariculture, offshore oil and gas production, marine re- newable energy devices, seabed mining, dredging of sediments, dumping of dredged ma- terial and historical dumping. This report consists of a scientific review of the literature to compile a list of marine specific contaminants potentially entering the marine environment from these sea-based sources. It also provides an overview of the environmental policy instruments and frameworks in place to oversee and regulate these substances within the EU. The resulting list should support Member States in setting-up of monitoring approaches, including hotspots screening, and therefore, help guide the selection of relevant sub- stances for MSFD Descriptor 8 implementation and also contribute to the work done in RSCs. 1 1 INTRODUCTION The Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC1) sets out the framework for the pro- tection of surface waters against chemical pollution. The first step was to establish a first list of of substances of European Union (EU)-wide concern (the priority substances, PS) as a means to assess the chemical status of water bodies up to 12 nautical miles from the straightened coastline (Decision 2455/2001). This first list was replaced by the Directive on Environmental Quality Standards (EQSD, 2008/105/EC2), which sets environmental quality standards (EQS) for these substances as well as for eight other pollutants already regulated under the scope of the Directive 86/280/EEC3. The WFD requires the Commis- sion to review periodically the list, and in 2012 it put forward a proposal for a Directive amending the WFD and the EQSD as regards to PS (Directive 2013/39/EU4). The next WFD priority substances review is currently ongoing and completion is expected by 2016. In addition, the WFD requires the selection by Member States of substances of national or local concern (river basin specific pollutants, RBSP), which form part of the quality ele- ments for "good ecological status” up to 1 nautical mile. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC5) aims to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) for Europe's marine waters by 2020. It completes the cover- age of marine waters by provisions for substance selection in the areas covered by Euro- pean legislation (fig. 1). The input of contaminants into the marine environment is con- sidered under MSFD Descriptor 8 “Concentrations of contaminants are at levels not giving rise to pollution effects” as one of the anthropogenic pressures which needs to be assessed by EU Member States. According to MSFD requirements (Commission Decision 2010/477/EU6), Member States have to take into consideration the relevant provisions of the WFD in territorial and/or coastal waters to ensure proper coordination of the imple- mentation of the two legal frameworks. Moreover, Member States have to consider also substances or groups of substances which are not listed as PS or RBSP but may entail significant risks to the marine environment. Hence, Member States should have also re- gard to the information and knowledge gathered and approaches developed in Regional 1 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European parliament and of the council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. http://eur- lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:5c835afb-2ec6-4577-bdf8- 756d3d694eeb.0004.02/DOC_1&format=PDF 2 Directive 2008/105/EC of the European parliament and of the council of 16 December 2008 on environmental quality standards in the field