An expert workshop on the relevance of disinfection by-products for the marine environment was organized jointly by GESAMP and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and was held in Berlin, Germany from 22 to 23 November 2018.
Seawater is used in various industrial applications (e.g. as ballast water in ships, as cooling water in power plants or for the production of drinking water). In many cases the water is treated as a way to prevent the spread of invasive species or to limit the growth of organisms (biofouling). Oxidative disinfection processes are often used for this purpose, through which disinfection by-products are generated. These by-products can pose a threat to humans and the environment. The aim of the workshop was to quantify the worldwide inputs of these compounds into the seas from the various sources and estimate resulting risks for humans and the environment.
The experts who participated in the workshop will produce a report which will cover the following topics:
- Relevance of disinfection by-products to the marine environment
- What are the scientific challenges to further addressing the topic
- Provision of advcie for further scientific research
- Examine the need for the formation of an international research group on the issue