Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
With policies worldwide almost eliminating the use of TBT, the use of
booster biocides in antifouling products has increased; hence, environmen-
tal occurrence in the future may be more significant. Restrictions on the use
of diuron, Irgarol, chlorothalonil, TCMTB and Kathon in the UK may lead to
an associated fall in concentrations in water, but the partitioning behaviour
of some of these compounds is such that their occurrence in sediments could
remain high. The strong binding to sediments and the low desorption rates of
some of these substances could lead to increased persistence and subsequent
ecotoxicological consequences.
Policy decisions in the future will need to be based on detailed testing
of antifouling agents, including measures not only of toxicity but also of
persistence and sorptive behaviour. They must also take into account the un-
certainty that is inherent in applying information from laboratory-scale tests
to whole ecosystems.
5
Conclusions
The use of antifouling paints has been identified as an important source of
booster biocides in the marine environment, along with agricultural and in-
dustrial inputs. For most of the biocides, evidence of their levels in waters
now exists; however, the lack of information on their fate, behaviour and
toxicity makes accurate risk assessment difficult. Concentrations appear sig-
nificantly higher in sediments, where anoxic conditions can lead to their
persistence.
With the elimination of the use of TBT, it is expected that booster biocides
will be used in increasing amounts in antifouling products and thus envi-
ronmental occurrence in the future may be even more significant. Policies
must be based on scientific evidence on the overall performance of these com-
pounds, especially persistence and partitioning, if antifoulants are to be used
sustainably and responsibly in the future.
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