Viruses and marine pollution

This short review summarises the present knowledge on pollutant impacts on marine viruses, virus-host systems and their potential ecological implications. Excess nutrients from sewage and river effluents are a primary cause of marine eutrophication and mucilage formation, often related to the development of large viral assemblages. At the same time, hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyl and pesticides alter ecosystem functioning and can determinate changes in the virus-host interactions, thus increasing the potential of viral infection. All these pollutants might have synergistic effects on the virus-host system and are able to induce prophage, thus increasing the impact of viruses on marine ecosystems.     

Ship recycling and marine pollution

This paper discusses the historical background, structure and enforcement of the ‘2009 Hong Kong International Convention on the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.’ the 2009 Hong Kong Convention establishes control and enforcement instruments related to ship recycling, determining the control rights of Port States and the obligations of Flag States, Parties and recycling facilities under its jurisdiction. The Convention also controls the communication and exchange of information procedures, establishes a reporting system to be used upon the completion of recycling, and outlines an auditing system for detecting violations. The Convention, however, also contains some deficiencies. This paper concludes these deficiencies will eventually influence the final acceptance of this Convention by the international community.     

The Fukushima Nuclear Power Station incident and marine pollution

Based on the facts relating to the radioactive wastewater discharged by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station in Japan, this paper intends to explore the international legal obligations for Japan from three perspectives, namely, the immediate notification, the prevention of transboundary harm and the prevention of dumping. Furthermore, this article defines and compares two types of international legal liabilities, the traditional state responsibility and the responsibility for transboundary harm. Through comparison, the international legal liability of Japan is discussed. After detailed analysis, the conclusion is that Japan should be responsible for the obligation of immediate notification and since Japan unilaterally discharge the wastes without prior specific permits of other contracting countries, it should also be responsible for the violation of prevention of dumping. Since so far, no material injury has emerged and there would appear to be no culpability as regards the prevention of transboundary harm. Finally, this paper stresses the necessity to develop a worldwide agreement concerning the liability for transboundary harm and to establish an institutional framework for the enforcement of a state's obligations, and also the great significance of international cooperation between nations and organisations in relation to marine environmental protection.     

International scope of marine pollution damage

Increasing pollution of estuaries and coastal waters causes economic damage to fisheries, tourism and much else. Developing countries are not immune from this, and the growth of tourism as well as the shift of populations to the coast in many parts of the world make pollution control all the more urgent. The problem is an international one and demands international solutions, but before these are likely, a good deal more hard information will be needed.     

Enchytraeid oligochaetes as marine pollution indicators

Fifteen species of enchytraeid oligochaetes have been collected from a pulp mill waste receiving area. Of these, one species Lumbricillus lineatus which is a known stressresistant intertidal form is predominant within 1.5 km of the mill outfall. Beyond that distance the species is replaced by a variable association of 14 other species from the genera Lumbricillus, Marionina and Enchytraeus. L. lineatus is common in Europe and eastern North America in upper intertidal drift habitats, but on the Pacific Coast is not indigenous. In British Columbia it has only been collected adjacent to three pulp mills, not at five other such mills, nor at ten undisturbed intertidal stations at each of which a diverse association of Enchytraeid species occurs. L. lineatus can serve as an index of the impact of pulp mill effluent at the site investigated. The most practical index is percentage of total adult enchytraeids represented by L. lineatus.     

Tunicate species as marine pollution indicators

Tunicates may serve as marine pollution indicators for monitoring the release of industrial and/or radioactive wastes into the marine environment. Their ability to accumulate certain trace elements from the seawater can be employed in order to define a suitable organism as indicator for some specific pollutants. In this work the concentration of the elements cobalt, zinc, chromium, caesium, silver, iron, rubidium, selenium, scandium and antimony has been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis and γ-ray spectroscopy, in two tunicates, Microcosmus sulcatus (Pyuridae) and Ciona intestinalis (Cionidae).According to the concentration factors found for these species Ciona intestinalis can be used as indicator for iron, while Microcosmus sulcatus as indicator for the elements selenium, chromium, zinc and cobalt.