Occurrence of micropollutants in the wastewater streams of cruise ships

verfasst von

Lena Westhof, Stephan Köster, Margrit Reich

Abstract

Nowadays the protection of the marine environment raises increasing academic and public attention. The issue of organic micropollutants is of equally high importance for the marine ecosystems. Maritime vessels are considered to significant sources of micropollutants especially if the ship carries many passengers, which is often true for cruise ships which frequent attractive and sensitive sea areas. The emission pathways for micropollutants include wastewater discharges and sewage sludge disposal. The findings of the German research and development project NAUTEK contribute to bridging the knowledge gap about micropollutant emissions from cruise ships. As expected, micropollutants were detected in both the blackwater and greywater on board, emitted from either the passengers or certain ship operations. In total, 16 out of 21 target substances were detected. Peak concentrations of pharmaceuticals could be found mainly in blackwater (peak conc. Carbamazepine 3.9 μg/L, Ibuprofen 29 μg/L, Diclofenac 0.04 μg/L), while greywater is mainly characterized by substances such as ointment residues, UV-filters and flame retardants (peak conc. Diclofenac 0.65 μg/L, Bisphenol A 8 μg/L, Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate 136 μg/L). Further analyses suggest a gradual removal of the micropollutants by the onboard MBR plant (MBR effluent peak conc. Carbamazepine 0.47 μg/L, Ibuprofen 6.8 μg/L, Diclofenac 0.3 μg/L). Findings of this research provide a critical stepstone for shaping technical solutions for onboard micropollutants removal and water resource recycling.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Siedlungswasserwirtschaft und Abfalltechnik

Externe Organisation(en)

Technische Universität Hamburg (TUHH)

Typ

Artikel

Journal

Emerging Contaminants

Band

2

Seiten

178-184

Anzahl der Seiten

7

ISSN

2405-6650

Publikationsdatum

16.11.2016

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Toxikologie, Öffentliche Gesundheit, Umwelt- und Arbeitsmedizin, Gesundheit, Toxikologie und Mutagenese

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 3 – Gute Gesundheit und Wohlergehen, SDG 12 – Verantwortungsvoller Konsum und Produktion, SDG 14 – Lebensraum Wasser

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emcon.2016.10.001 (Zugang: Offen)