Untitled Document

Pollutant	Sources and Characteristics	Environmental Activity	Environmental or Human Health Effects
Detergents	¬ Most cleaning agents, detergents and soaps ¬ Oil spill dispersants²⁹ ¬ Breaks down oils and greases on boats ¹⁷ ¬ Dissolves according to water conditions	¬ Accumulates in sediments ¬ Broken down by microorganisms	¬ Toxic to marine plants and animals ¬ Impairs breathing in fish ¹⁷ ¬ Reduces amounts of oxygen in affected waters ¬ Produces unsightly foam on the water surface
Marine debris	¬ Commercial and recreational boating ¹¹ ¬ Plastics, food wastes, packaging, lines, nets, fish cleaning wastes ³ ¬ Plastics degrade very slowly. ¬ Some wastes become nutrients (see "Nutrients")	¬ Persistent in the environment	¬ Can choke / strangle sea animals ^{3, 11} ¬ "Ghost" nets and traps endanger divers ³ ¬ Can transport harmful non-native species ¹¹ ¬ Snagged by props and engines ³ ¬ Ruins recreational beaches ¹¹
Acidic & Alkaline Substances	¬ Battery acid, lye and other strong acids or bases in vessel cleaning products ¹³ ¬ Dissolves easily in ater	¬ Increases natural acidity or alkalinity of water by decreasing or increasing pH respectively.	¬ Toxic to marine plants and animals ¬ Increases the toxicity of other toxic substances, metals, other pollutants and chemicals ¬ Can irritate or damage skin
Metals	¬ Paint particles from hydro-washing, metal shavings from engine wear, and consumer products containing metals ¬ Dissolves according to water conditions	¬ Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals ¬ Persistent in the environment ¬ Some metals broken down by microorganisms	¬ Toxic to marine plants and animals. ¬ Changes the food web in the marine environment by eliminating certain species
Copper (Cu)	¬ Used as a toxic agent in antifouling paints. ¬ Dissolves according to water conditions	¬ Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals ¬ Persistent in the environment	¬ Very toxic to fish when combined with zinc sulfates ¹⁵ ¬ Long term toxicity to marine plants and animals
Tributlytin (TBT)	¬ Still used as a toxic agent in antifouling paint on aluminum hulls, outboard motors & lower drive units ^{4, 15}	¬ Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals ¹⁵ ¬ Persistent in the environment	¬ Toxic even in small amounts to marine plants and animals, especially bottom feeders ¹⁵ ¬ TBT-contaminated shellfish are dangerous to human health ¹⁵
Zinc (Zn)	¬ Anticorrosive zincs and paint pigments ¬ Dissolves according to water conditions, which can make Zn more available to marine organisms ¹⁵	¬ Accumulates in sediments, marine plants & animals ¬ Persistent in the environment	¬ Toxic to marine plants and animals, even in small amounts¹⁴
Oil / Fuel	¬ Normal boat operation, fueling, engine maintenance, spills, runoff, and bilge discharge ¬ Dissolves slowly in water, clings to particles and sediments in marine environments	¬ Fuels evaporate in air ¬ Broken down by sediment microorganisms²¹ ¬ Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals ¬ High accumulation in estuaries and intertidal areas	¬ Some components toxic to marine plants and animals even at low concentrations ²³ ¬ Some components cause cancer, mutations and / or birth defects. ¬ Behavioral changes in shellfish and fish ²³ ¬ Discoloring and bad taste in flesh of fish ^{19, 24, 25}
Dusts and sediments	¬ Vessel scraping and sanding, erosion during construction and urban runoff ¬ Heavy metals, nutrients, hydrocarbons, etc. adhere to dusts and sediments	¬ Accumulate in sediments near the discharge to water ¬ Sediment-bound contaminants released to water if disturbed	¬ May reduce amounts of oxygen in affected waters ¬ General lowering of water quality ¬ Burial of habitat, food and/or organisms ¬ Increased turbidity can clog gills of fish
Nutrients	¬ Runoff, sewage, erosion, garbage & detergents containing (P)hosphorous or (N)itrogen ¬ P binds easily to water particles	¬ Used by marine plants and organisms for food (P,N) ¬ Accumulates in sediment (P)	¬ Increase in algae growth which decreases light and oxygen in the water (eutrophication) ¬ (N) can be toxic in higher concentrations
Solvents	¬ Vessel maintenance & repair activities ¬ Paints, varnishes, paint removers and lacquers as well as degreasing agents ¬ Does not dissolve in water ¹³	¬ Sink in water until they reach an impervious surface ¬ Acetone lingers in air and is transported to sediment & water	¬ Many solvents can cause cancer. ¬ Large amounts can cause dizziness, disorientation and unconsciousness in the user ²
Anti-freeze	Used as engine coolant and freeze prevention during winter storage. Improper use & storage creates leaks or spills ¹³	¬ Fate similar to solvents ¹³	¬ Ethylene glycol is deadly to humans, pets & marine organisms in low doses ² ¬ Propylene glycol (orange/pink color) is less toxic than ethylene glycol (blue/green color) and is preferred for use in boats ⁷

References

1. Austin, Dana (1995) Southwest Marine, Personal communication.

2. Andrews, Larry S. and Robert Snyder (1991) Toxic effects of solvents and vapors" in Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons 4th Edition, Amdur, Mary, John Doull and Curtis Klaassen eds.

3. Augerot, Xanthippe (1988) "Plastics in the ocean: What are we doing to clean it up?" Washington Sea Grant.

4. Barclays California Code of Regulations (1993), Register 93, Number 2, 1-8-93, Sections 6488, 6489 & 6674.

5. California Department of Fish & Game (1990), "Report of Fish Caught by the California Commercial Passenger Fishing Boat Fleet, Annual, 1989," Bulletin Tables.

6. California Department of Fish & Game (1989), "Table 15: Poundage and Value of Landings of Commercial Fish into California by Area, 1988." Bulletin Tables.

7. CDTEP, undated, "Boat Marinas", Undated memorandum issued by Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Hartford, Connecticut.

8. Connell, Des W, and Gregory J. Miller (1984) Chemistry and Ecotoxicologyof Pollution, John Wiley & Sons, NY.

9. Dawe, Clyde J. (1990) "Implications of aquatic animal health for human health", Environmental Health Perspectives 86: 245-255.

10. Environmental Health Services (1990), San Diego Bay Health Risk Study, San Diego County Department of Health Services, San Diego, CA.

11. Faris, Jeannie and Kathy Hart (undated) Sea of Debris: A Summary of the Third International Conference on Marine Debris1994, NC Sea Grant College Program and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

12. Ford, Richard Ph.D, (1994) Marine Habitats of San Diego Bay: The Changes that have Produced their Present Condition & their Vulnerability to Effects of Pollution & Disturbance, San Diego State University.

13. Fugro McCleIland (1992) Final Report: Best Management Practices for Coastal Marinas, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Long Island Sound Programs and Bureau of Water Management.

14. Goyer, Robert A. (1991) "Toxic effects of metals" in Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons 4th Edition, Amdur, Mary, John Doull and Curtis Klaassen eds.

15. Jayne, Deborah (1993), Staff Report on Petitions to Downgrade Threat to Water Quality and Complexity Ratings for Campbell Industries, Southwest Marine and National Steel and Shipbuilding Company Shipyards, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region.

16. Kramer, Sharon H. (1990) "Distribution and Abundance of Juvenile California Halibut, Paralichthys californicus, in Shallow Waters of San Diego County." In: Haugen, Charles W. (1990) The California Halibut, Paralichthys californicus, Resource and Fisheries. California Department of Fish and Game. Fish Bulletin 174:99-126.

17. Lewis, Michael A. (1992) "The effects of mixtures and other environmental modifying factors on the toxicities of surfactants to freshwater and marine life." Water Resources 26: 1013-1023.

18. Maher, Eileen (1994) "Dredging Projects in San Diego Bay" abstract: Sea Grant Workshop, San Diego Unifed Port District.

19. Mann, H. (1964) "Effects on the flavor of fishes by oils and phenols." Symp. PoIlt. Mar. Micro-org. Prod. Petrol. Monaco 1964:371-374.

20. McCain, Bruce B. et al (1992) "Chemical contamination and associated fish diseases in San Diego Bay", Environmental Science and Technology, 26(4):725-733.

21. McMahon, P.J.P. (1989) "The impact of marinas on water quality," Water Science and Technology 21 (2):39-43.

22. Murchelano, Robert A. (1990) "Fish health and environmental health", Environmental Health Perspectives, 86: 257-259.

23. Neff, J. M. (1979) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Aquatic Environment. Applied Science Publishers, London.

24. Nelson-Smith, A., (1973), Oil Pollution and Marine Ecology, Plenum Press, New York.

25. Nitta, T. et al (1965) "Studies on the problems of offensive odors in fish caused by wastes from petroleum industries (in Japanese with English summary). Bull. Tokai Region. Fish Res Lab., 42, 23.

26. Santa Cruz Port District, (1994) "Three ways you can save yourself money," Anchor Watch, Santa Cruz, CA.

27. Thomson, Cynthia J. and Stephen J. Crooke (1991) Results of the Southern California Sportfish Economic Survey. National Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC.

28. Vanderweele, Dave and Richard F. Ford, Ph.D. (1994) The Effects of Copper on the Bivalve Mollusc Mytilus edulis and the Amphipod Crustacean Grandidierella japonica in Shelter Island Yacht Basin, San Diego Bay, California, prepared for the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board and Teledyne Research Assistance Program, Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical, San Diego, CA.

29. Waddell, Dave (1992) "Detergent and Soap Toxicity Assessment" Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro)

Authors:
Erika J. A. MCCoy, Program Representative

Leigh T. Johnson, Marine Advisor
University of California Cooperative Extension
5555 Overland Avenue, Building 4
San Diego, CA 92123

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SEA GRANT EXTENSION PROGRAM
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO FARM HOME ADVISOR DEPARTMENT

Educational Use, Only
This information is provided on an educational basis to assist you in working with your boatyard or maintenance service. Examples and prices were current in Spring, 1995 and are provided for illustrative purposes; no recommendation is intended or implied. Ask your boatyard, marine supply dealer or regulatory agency about availability, prices and regulations.

We wish to thank Clay Clifton for his editorial assistance and Bill Lewis (Recreational Boaters of California), Steve Scheiblauer (Monterey Harbor District), Eileen Maher (San Diego Unified Port District), Dana Austin (Southwest Marine), Bob Reed (California Department of Fish and Game), Libby Lucas (Environmental Health Coalition) and the many others who provided data, advice and review.

This work is sponsored in part by NOAA, National Sea Grant College Program. Department of Commerce, under grant number NA36RG0537, project number A/EA-l, through the California Sea Grant Program, in part by United States Environmental Protection Agency, under grant number NW009982-01-0, in part by the California State Resources Agency, in part by the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources and in part by the County of San Diego. The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the sponsors or any of their sub-agencies. The U.S. government may reproduce and distribute for governmental purposes.

The University of California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law, and University policy does not discriminate on the basin of race, color. National origin. religion, sex, disability, age. medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran. The University also prohibits sexual harassment. Inquiries regarding the University's nondiscrimination policies maybe directed to the Affirmative Action Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1111 Franklin Street, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607-5200. (510) 987-0096. University of California. United States Department of Agriculture. United States Department of Commerce and County of San Diego cooperating.