Toxic substances formally identified as potentially
harmful to aquatic life
The Dangerous Substances Directive
Convention on the Protection of the
Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic
Ministerial Conferences on the Protection
of the North Sea
Various studies carried out for the Nature Conservancy
Council and English Nature have highlighted and
investigated areas of concern with regard to the
marine environment. Nixon et al (1992) highlight
a variety of toxic contaminants of concern based
on List I and List II substances (from the Dangerous
Substances Directive 76/464/EEC) and Red List substances.
Subsequently, other studies have conducted more
in-depth analysis of some of the issues raised by
Nixon et al.
In addition to the issues raised by Nixon et
al (1992), contaminants of importance to marine
waters can be identified and are reflected in the
legislation controlling discharges to estuarine,
coastal and marine waters. Priority lists have been
drawn up by various authorities and conferences
related to the protection of marine waters.
Those considered of relevance are the Dangerous
Substances Directive, The Convention on the Protection
of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic
and the Ministerial Conferences on the Protection
of the North Sea.
The Dangerous Substances Directive
In 1976, the EU Council of Ministers adopted the
Dangerous Substances Directive (76/464/EEC) to control
pollution caused by certain dangerous substances
discharged into the environment. The Directive established
two lists of compounds:
List I dealing with substances regarded as being
particularly dangerous because of their toxicity,
persistence and bioaccumulation. Pollution by List
I substances must be eliminated; and
List II containing substances which are less dangerous
but which nevertheless have a deleterious effect
on the aquatic environment. Pollution by List II
substances must be reduced.
In the last two years, the UK has added a number
of new chemicals to List II. The two lists as they
currently stand are given in Tables 1 and 2.
Table 1 Agreed List I substances
| Cadmium |
Mercury |
Lindane
(hexachlorocyclohexane) |
| Pentachlorophenol |
DDT |
Carbon
tetrachloride |
| Chloroform |
Hexachlorobenzene |
Hexachlorobutadiene |
| Dieldrin |
Aldrin |
Isodrin |
| Endrin |
1,2-dichloroethane |
Trichloroethylene |
| Perchloroethylene |
Trichlorobenzene |
|
In addition to the chemicals adopted as List II
substances (Table 2), Department of the Environment,
Transport and the Regions (DETR) and Environment
Agency have been conducting programmes for deriving
EQSs for the protection of aquatic life (including
marine organisms). Although not adopted into legislation,
these EQSs may be used as guidance for consenting
discharges. Those chemicals for which EQSs have
been agreed (and are not adopted into legislation)
are given below.
Table 2a - List II substances for which EQSs have
been adopted by the UK
| Arsenic |
Boron |
| Chromium |
Copper |
| Iron |
Lead |
| Mothproofers |
Nickel |
| Organotins |
pH |
| Vanadium |
Zinc |
Table 2b - List II substances for which EQSs have
recently been adopted
| Arsenic |
Atrazine |
| Azinphos-methyl |
Benzene |
| Biphenyl |
4-chloro-3-methyl
phenol |
| Chloronitrotoluenes |
2-chlorophenol |
| 2,4-dichlorophenol |
Dichlorvos |
| Dimethoate |
Endosulfan |
| Fenitrothion |
2,4-D |
| Bentazone |
Demeton |
| Linuron |
Mecoprop |
| Naphthalene |
Omethoate |
| Simazine |
Trifluralin |
| Trichloroethanes |
Triazophos |
| Toluene |
Xylenes |
Table 3 Chemicals for which EQSs for the protection
of saltwater life have been agreed (but not adopted
into legislation)
| Aluminium |
Ammonia |
Abamectin |
| Ivermectin |
Doramectin |
Bromine |
| Bromoxynil |
Carbendazim |
Chlorine |
| Chlorine
dioxide |
Chlorothalonil |
Chlorotoluron |
| Chlorpropham |
Cobalt |
Cyanide |
| Dichlorobenzenes |
Dichlorphen |
Diflubenzuron |
| EDTA |
Ethofumesate |
Fluoride |
| Flusilazole |
Formaldehyde |
Imazethypyr |
| Inorganic
tin |
Ioxynil |
Isoproturon |
| Maneb |
Macozeb |
Manganese |
| Malachite
green |
Mevinphos |
NTA |
| Nonylphenol |
Octylphenol |
Oxolinic
acid |
| Oxytetracycline |
Pendimethalin |
Phthlates |
| Pirimiphos-methyl |
Phenol |
Propyzamide |
| Pirimicarb |
Prochloraz |
Silver |
| Styrene |
|
|
Convention on the Protection of
the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic
The Convention on the protection of the marine
environment of the North-East Atlantic replaces
the 1972 Oslo Convention on Waste Dumping at Sea
and the 1974 Paris Convention on pollution of the
North Sea and Adjacent Areas from Land-Based Sources.
The new Convention requires signatory countries
to prevent and, where possible, eliminate pollution
of the marine environment. Previous Conventions
merely required a reduction in pollution.
The Convention places particular emphasis on preventing
pollution from diffuse sources. To this end, a list
of substances that contribute to diffuse pollution
has been drawn up.
Table 4 - Priority substances identified under
the North Atlantic Marine Convention as contributing
to diffuse pollution
| Brominated flame
retardants |
| Chlorinated paraffins |
| Metals (Cd, Hg,
Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Cr, Ni) |
| Nonyl phenol ethoxylates |
| Organotin compounds |
| Polyaromatic hydrocarbons |
| PCBs and PCB substitutes
|
| Polybrominated
naphthalenes |
| Timber treatment
chemicals |
| Triazine herbicides |
Ministerial Conferences on the
Protection of the North Sea
Concern about the quality of the North Sea has
resulted in a series of Conferences of the Environment
Ministers of countries bordering the North Sea.
Decisions reached at these Conferences have had
a significant impact on the development of policy
and legislation for the protection of the aquatic
environment in Western Europe. The first Conference
was held in Bremen in 1985, subsequent meetings
have been held in London and the Hague and the latest
Conference was held in Esjberg in June 1995.
Second Ministerial Conference
Third Ministerial Conference
The Fourth North Sea Conference
References
|
