As the polar regions are becoming more accessible and polar tourism rises, so does cruise ship traffic—and with it, wastewater discharges into some of Earth’s most fragile ecosystems. A new study conducted by RECETOX center in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA) and the expedition cruise company, HX (formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions) analyzed treated wastewater from three expedition cruise ships and found over 160 chemical compounds, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and industrial chemicals and their findings are alarming.
Maritime traffic is increasing at an alarming rate. Cruise ship tourism is the fastest growing industry in the tourism sector, and ships are getting bigger, with some accommodating over 6 000 passengers. Other shipping types such as oil tankers or container ships is also increasing. Despite this, we still know very little about the types and quantities of chemicals released through wastewater discharge. The old assumption that the ocean can dilute all pollutants is no longer safe to rely on,” says the first author of the study Veronica van der Schyff.
The researchers collected treated wastewater from three expedition cruise ships of different ages and renovation statuses. The water was a combination of gray water (water from shipboard activities such as showers, kitchens, or cleaning) and black water (sewage) that has already been treated by the onboard wastewater treatment plant and was due for discharge. Ships discharge treated wastewater 3 nautical miles (NM) offshore, and may discharge untreated water > 12 NM offshore.
“The findings include the presence of antibiotics in wastewater, raising concerns about the spread of antibiotic resistance and potential harm to marine life. Other medications such as cardiovascular medicine, NSAIDs, and antidepressants were also found. These compounds are not easily removed by wastewater treatments systems and are released into the surrounding ocean, where they can be transported even further, potentially affecting local wildlife,” explains Veronica van der Schyff.
Back at RECETOX, two aliquots of 100-150 ml from each ship were suspect screened with liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS).
The study highlights the urgent need for:
As we work toward more sustainable tourism, understanding what's in cruise ship discharges is essential to protecting Arctic and other marine ecosystems.
It's time to rethink regulations, especially in designated discharge zones and regarding the technologies used for onboard wastewater treatment.
While the ships are anonymized, we thank the engineers, crew, and expedition teams of all the ships for their support and generosity.
Learn more: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.estlett.5c00209
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