Sewage: Towards Realistic Environmental Protection

Abstract

The disposal of sewage into aquatic systems is attracting increasing regulation at the European Community level. Initially, pollution control strategies focussed on the protection of rivers and inland waters from excessive oxygen demand loading. This has led to an increasing use of marine waters for the disposal of sewage effluents and sludges. The bacteriological hazards associated with these practices are now well understood and have led in turn to restrictions on such disposal activities. This problem is illustrated with data from Venice Lagoon showing extreme bacterial contamination. A less commonly appreciated problem relates to the chemical contamination of sewage from both household and industrial chemicals. Results from analyses of a variety of sewage effluents are presented in this paper and the implications of the inventory of chemicals found are discussed.

Coal and deodorizer residues in marine sediments—contaminants or pollutants?

“…1,4-Dichlorobenzene is considered to be a concern in the aquatic environment [26] and has a moderate risk rating in the Great Lakes [27], but there is little information on which to base such a judgment [25,28]; studies to date have been observational and correlational (e.g., the present study, [9]). There is a need to determine, through direct experimentation, whether this compound is in fact a pollutant (i.e., causes adverse biological effects) in sediments rather than simply a contaminant.…”

The implications of the precautionary principle for biological monitoring

“…Again, it is not the intention of this paper to delve deeply into these, which have been well noted at the 1992 Helgoland Symposium, as elsewhere (Johnston & MacGarvin, 1988;Johnston et al, 1990a;Johnston et al, 1990b;Smith & Johnston, 1992;Johnston et al, 1993). However, the limitations of generalised techniques, such as measurements of mixed function oxidases, MFOs, were once more highlighted.…”

Striving for Sustainability: The Contribution of Paul Johnston to Conservation Biology

“…His scientific papers range from experiments on the chemical additives in children's toys to the effect of human chemical use on aquatic species (Smith, Swindlehurst, Johnston, & Vethaak, 1995;Stringer et al, 2000). Furthermore, his scientific reviews compile knowledge surrounding a variety of topics including the negative impacts of using risk assessment as opposed to the precautionary principle in policy decisions, as well as the effects of sewage wastes on the increase of chemicals in aquatic environments (Johnston et al, 1993;Santillo, Stringer, Johnston, & Tickner, 1998). These reviews are not limited to journals; Greenpeace International also releases its own publications, such as Oceans in Peril: Protecting Marine Biodiversity, published in 2007, which outlines the state of the world's oceans and the authors' perceived requirements and suggestions for its conservation (Allsopp, Page, Johnston, & Santillo, 2007).…”