Emerging Risks from Ballast Water Treatment
19-21/Oct/2011
Description
For the reduction of aquatic invasive species, the International Ballast Water Convention requires the treatment of ships’ ballast water prior to dis-charge. The approval procedure for ballast water treatment systems by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to ensure their accept-ability for human health and the aquatic environ-ment. The majority of systems approved to date are based on oxidative principles, which produce disinfection by-products (DBP). Several DBP are known to produce cancer in animals, others are poorly characterized with respect to their long-term toxicity. Little is known about their impact on marine environments. This conference will focus on the formation of DBP by ballast water treat-ment systems and discuss strategies for im-proved human health and environmental risk as-sessment. |