Marine Life is under threat
Concerns have been expressed by wildlife campaigners that the toxic TBT is spreading pollution from the Artic to the Antarctic.
A deadly chemical, otherwise known as TBT is widely used in boat paints to stop marine life from sticking to the hulls of the boats and ships. Dr Sayer explains "In freshwaters once TBT is released from an antifouling coating it is rapidly abosorbed by bacteria and algae, and eventually works its way up the food chain."
40 years ago, it was found to have bad impacts on the marine ecosystems; such as to change the gender of whelks, cause oyster crops failure in France and it has also closed some shellfish farms. It contaminates wildlife in both the open oceans as well in coastal waters and the chemcial is entering our food chain, says WWF.
During the IMO meeting this week, the global conservatin organisation is summoning on member countries to change their legislation introduced five years ago and bring an end to this senseless pollution. Disappointly only 17 out of 166 countries of the IMO has done so. However, the majority of the shipping industry supports a ban, the leading paint companies have also stopped producing TBT since 2003 and are using alternatives instead. WWF in particular has produced a paper to IMO about the TBT pollution. It shows the imapcts on mussels, clams and a range of other marine animals such as tuna and harbour porpoise.
40 years ago, it was found to have bad impacts on the marine ecosystems; such as to change the gender of whelks, cause oyster crops failure in France and it has also closed some shellfish farms. It contaminates wildlife in both the open oceans as well in coastal waters and the chemcial is entering our food chain, says WWF.
During the IMO meeting this week, the global conservatin organisation is summoning on member countries to change their legislation introduced five years ago and bring an end to this senseless pollution. Disappointly only 17 out of 166 countries of the IMO has done so. However, the majority of the shipping industry supports a ban, the leading paint companies have also stopped producing TBT since 2003 and are using alternatives instead. WWF in particular has produced a paper to IMO about the TBT pollution. It shows the imapcts on mussels, clams and a range of other marine animals such as tuna and harbour porpoise.