Dr David Santillo Greenpeace Research Laboratories University of Exeter, UK

1. The need to adopt a zero discharge policy Dr David Santillo Greenpeace Research Laboratories University of Exeter, UK

7. Why zero? Dilute & disperse The solution to pollution is dilution

8. Why zero? Dilute & disperse Assimilative capacity The solution to pollution is dilution The environment can deal with our pollution... ...up to a limit

9. Assimilative Capacity “ The ability of a body of water to cleanse itself” “ Its capacity to receive waste waters or toxic materials without deleterious effects and without damage to aquatic life or humans who consume the water”

11. Assimilative capacity? Pb Hg Cd Cr N P BOD TOC

12. Assimilative capacity? Pb Hg Cd Cr N P BOD TOC X

13. Bioaccumulation of mercury

14. Bioaccumulation of PBDEs

15. Why zero? Dilute & disperse Assimilative capacity The solution to pollution is dilution The environment can deal with our pollution... ...up to a limit

16. Why zero? Dilute & disperse Assimilative capacity Zero discharge The solution to pollution is dilution The environment can deal with our pollution... ...up to a limit Many pollutants are not readily broken down or detoxified in the environment

24. OSPAR List of Chemicals for Priority Action Most recent update (2007) contains over 40 individual substances or groups OSPAR List of Chemicals for Priority Action 1998 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Short-chained chlorinated paraffins Mercury and organic mercury compounds Organic tin compounds Nonylphenol/ethoxylates and related substances Musk xylene Brominated flame retardants Certain phthalates - DBP and DEH Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) Pentachlorophenol (PCP) Hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCH) Cadmium Lead and organic lead compounds

27. Industrial effluents can be complex: Riachuelo 2009 28 organic compounds resolved 12 identified (43%) 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester Benzene, 1,3-dichloro- Benzene, 1,4-dichloro- Benzothiazole, 2-(methylthio)- Chloroform Ethene, trichloro- Ethene, tetrachloro- Nonadecane Phenol, 2,4,5-trimethyl- Phenol, 2,4,6-trimethyl- Phenol, 2,6-dimethyl- Toluene, p-amino-

28. Industrial effluents can be complex: Riachuelo 2009 101 organic compounds resolved 25 identified (25%) [1,1'-Biphenyl]-2-ol 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, diethyl ester 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester Benzene, 1,2-dichloro- Benzene, 1,3-dichloro- Benzene, 1,4-dichloro- Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl- Benzene, 1,3,5-trimethyl- Benzopyran, 6-acetyl-7-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl- Benzothiazole Benzothiazole, 2-(methylthio)- Chloroform Cholest-5-en-3-ol (3.beta.)- Citric acid, tributyl ester, acetate Ethene, 1,2-dichloro-, cis- Ethene, trichloro- Ethene, tetrachloro- Galaxolide Hexadecanoic acid Methane, bromodichloro- Methane, dichloro- Phenol, 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4 methyl- (BHT) Phenol, nonyl-, mixture of isomers Sulfur, mol. (S8) Xylenes, o-, p-, & m-isomers

29. WWTPs can be overloaded: China, 2009 67 organic compounds resolved 31 identified (46%) 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, dibutyl ester 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, dimethyl ester 1,2,3,5,6-Pentathiepane 1,2,4,5-Tetrathiane 1,2,4-Trithiolane 1-Octadecanethiol 1-Octadecene 3,5-Dibromosalicylaldehyde Acetophenone Benzaldehyde, 3,5-dimethyl- Benzaldehyde, 3-bromo- Benzaldehyde, 4-bromo- Benzaldehyde, 4-chloro- Benzaldehyde, 3-chloro- Benzene, hexachloro- Decanoic acid Dodecanoic acid Ethane, 1,2-bis(2-chloroethoxy)- Methanone, diphenyl- Naphthalene Nonanoic acid Phenol, 2,4,6-trichloro- Phenol, 2,4-di-t-butyl-6-nitro- Phenol, 2,4,6-tribromo- Phenol, 2,4-dibromo- Phenol, 2,4-dichloro-6-nitro- Sulfur, mol. (S8) Tetradecanoic acid Undecanoic acid Undecane

30. WWTPs can be overloaded: Russia, 2007

32. Zero discharge cannot be achieved overnight…

33. Zero discharge cannot be achieved overnight… …but the decision to start working towards it can be.