Abstract

This study investigates the potential for leaching of coal trace elements to seawater from a grounded bulk carrier. The coal type and ecological scenario was based on the grounding of the "Shen Neng" (April 2010) at Douglas Shoal located within the Great Barrier Reef (Queensland, Australia). The area is of high ecological value and the Queensland Water Quality Guidelines (2009) provided threshold limits to interpret potential impacts. Coal contains many trace elements that are of major and moderate concern to human health and the environment although many of these concerns are only realised when coal is combusted. However, "unburnt" coal contains trace elements that may be leached to natural waterways and few studies have investigated the potential ecological impact of such an occurrence. For example, coal maritime transport has increased by almost 35% over the last five reported years (Jaffrennou et al., 2007) and as a result there is an increased inherent risk of bulk carrier accidents. Upon grounding or becoming submerged, coal within a bulk carrier may become saturated with seawater and potentially leach trace elements to the environment and impact on water quality and ecological resilience. The worst case scenario is the breakup of a bulk carrier and dispersal of cargo to the seafloor.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Lucas SA, Planner J

Institution

The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment, The University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia. Steven.lucas@newcastle.edu.au

Source

Marine pollution bulletin 64:5 2012 May pg 1012-7

MeSH

Coal
Groundwater
New South Wales
Risk Assessment
Seawater
Trace Elements
Water Pollutants, Chemical

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22417390