Environmental impacts of grey water discharge from ships in the Baltic Sea
Journal article, 2020

Discharge of grey water from ships is today unregulated in most sea areas, including the Baltic Sea. Annually, an estimated 5.5 million m3 grey water is emitted to the Baltic Sea with largest contribution from RoPax (4.25 million m3) and cruise ships (0.65 million m3). In total 44 different contaminants in grey water was identified and sorted into the sub categories organic compounds (28) and metals (16). Zinc and copper had the highest average concentrations with yearly inputs of 2.8 tons (zinc) and 1.5 tons (copper). 159 tons of nitrogen and 26.4 tons of phosphorus were estimated to be discharged to the Baltic Sea annually. An environmental risk assessment of contaminants, performed at a shipping lane in the Baltic Sea, showed the risk for adverse effects from grey water to be low. Nitrogen and phosphorus input from grey water contributes to 0.25% of the exceedance of, for the Baltic Sea set, eutrophication target.

Environmental risk assessment

Contaminants

Grey water

Eutrophication

Baltic Sea

Ships

Author

Erik Ytreberg

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Martin Eriksson

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Ilja Maljutenko

Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech)

J. P. Jalkanen

Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI)

L. Johansson

Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI)

Ida-Maja Hassellöv

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Lena Granhag

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Marine Pollution Bulletin

0025-326X (ISSN) 1879-3363 (eISSN)

Vol. 152 110891

Subject Categories

Water Engineering

Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources

Environmental Sciences

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110891

More information

Latest update

3/24/2021