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Banned pollutants discovered off the African coast
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Dr Rosalinda Gioia aboard a research vessel off the coast of west Africa
A researcher from The Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) says there are relatively high levels of harmful organic pollutants off the African coast possibly due to toxic waste.
Dr Rosalinda Gioia's research, reported in Nature, revealed the presence of high levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) which have been banned in Europe and North America because of their adverse effects on human health and ecosystems.
Dr Gioia, an atmospheric pollution researcher, is the lead author of the report published in Environmental Science and Technology.
She said: "In the global inventories of PCBs, Africa does not really represent a place where PCBs were sold or used. Of course, the long-term exposure to these levels of PCBs could lead to adverse effects to human health; however, a detailed toxicological study is needed in order to determine the effects."
She said that one likely source of the pollution is the dumping of old electrical waste such as capacitors and other PCB-containing products. Developing countries take large amounts of waste from Western nations and break them down or dispose of them, often with little regard for safety or pollution.
Another probable source of the PCBs is one of the world's largest ships' graveyards off the coast of Mauritania, where hundreds of wrecks have been left to decay, probably releasing PCBS in the process.
The production and use of these chemicals is now largely banned by national laws and under the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Thu 10 February 2011
Associated Links
- Lancaster Environment Centre - Innovation, training and research for a sustainable future
Latest News
Geography student sets up film company
It is well known that Geography graduates are highly employable and use their degrees in many different ways. One of the more unusual we have heard about recently is Lancaster geographer Greg Tomaszewicz who has set up his own Video Production Company - Lanor Productions.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Fri 22 February 2013
Eco-innovation businesses invited to attend pioneering project launch
Ambitious North West SMEs keen to drive forward eco-innovative ideas and products are invited to a major event in Manchester on March 4.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Thu 21 February 2013
First Science and Technology Business Partnerships and Enterprise Annual Report 2011-2012 available to download now
2011-2012 saw the development of a new theme-based strategy for Business Partnerships and Enterprise in Science and Technology. The seven interdisciplinary themes are: Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, Environment, Health and Human Development, Information and Communication Technologies, Quantum Technology and Security. Each theme has dedicated professional staff to work with businesses and source the expertise they need.
Tue 19 February 2013
Lancaster University Coffeemat Challenge won by Science and Technology student Seb
The concept of a new university website, complete with mobile application, to capture the campus social scene at a glance, earned an enterprising student an iPad.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Tue 19 February 2013