Abstract
Copper (Cu) has a narrow range between optimal concentrations as a micronutrient critical for phytoplankton growth and concentrations potentially toxic to living organisms. This sensitivity indicates an ecosystem vulnerability that threatens not only nature but also human health due to bioaccumulation. An important source of elevated Cu concentrations in coastal environments are biocides used as antifouling protection on ships. A pilot study conducted in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of the Krka Estuary (Croatia) over a period of 16 months investigated the relationship between ship traffic and Cu concentrations. The aim was to contribute to more informed environmental management by assessing the associated risks. In the study presented here, Cu concentrations were monitored, analyzed, and correlated with vessel traffic. Observations revealed that the seasonal increase in maritime traffic caused by nautical tourism was associated with an increase in Cu concentrations of more than five times, posing a toxicity risk to the environment. In order to understand the distribution of copper emissions, a mapping of maritime traffic was carried out by counting transits, radar imagery, and drone photography. This approach has proven sufficient to identify the potential risks to the marine environment and human health, thus providing an effective assessment tool for marine stakeholders.
Highlights
Over a 10-year period, tourist arrivals in the EU have increased by 60%, with coastal tourism accounting for a significant share of the EU maritime economy, with 86 billion EUR
A typical example of the latter is the pollutant emissions from antifouling paints, copper (Cu), which was the focus of this study
Antifouling paint, known as bottom paint, is a coating used to prevent the growth of marine organisms on the parts of the vessel immersed in water
Summary
Over a 10-year period, tourist arrivals in the EU have increased by 60%, with coastal tourism accounting for a significant share of the EU maritime economy, with 86 billion EUR in gross value added [1]. Nautical tourism causes environmental impacts through the discharge of effluents into the sea, the emission of air pollutants, and the degradation of marine organisms and their habitats [5,8,9]. While some environmental aspects of nautical tourism, such as the discharge of effluents, chemicals or waste, the emission of air pollutants, and the impact on marine organisms and their habitats, are partially regulated, others are not [7]. Biofouling starts as soon as the surface is submerged in water [10,11,12]. This leads to a reduction in the ship’s speed and increased fuel consumption due to the increased frictional resistance [12]. The process of biofouling can lead to the introduction of new species into areas where they do not naturally occur, as they
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