Analysis Of The Implication Of Marine Systems And Equipment On Health Condition

Health & Social Care | Health Administration and Management | Health Technology

The examination of the implications of marine systems and equipment on health conditions underscores the intricate interplay between maritime operations and human well-being. The maritime industry encompasses various sectors, including shipping, offshore energy, fisheries, and marine research, each exerting distinct pressures on human health. Factors such as prolonged exposure to maritime environments, physically demanding work, ergonomic challenges, and the potential hazards of marine equipment pose significant health risks to seafarers and marine workers. These risks encompass a spectrum of concerns, ranging from musculoskeletal disorders due to heavy lifting and repetitive tasks to respiratory ailments from exposure to hazardous substances like oil spills or exhaust emissions. Moreover, the isolation and confined living conditions aboard vessels can exacerbate mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Mitigating these health implications requires comprehensive strategies encompassing ergonomic design of equipment, stringent safety protocols, access to medical care, and robust mental health support services. By addressing these challenges holistically, stakeholders can foster a safer and healthier maritime environment for all involved, thereby promoting sustainable and resilient marine operations.

ABSTRACT

Anthropogenic contaminants reach the marine environment mostly directly from land-based sources, but there are cases in which they are emitted or re-mobilized in the marine environment itself. This paper focused on the analyzing the list of contaminants potentially released into the sea from sea-based sources (such as equipment) and provide an overview of their effect on health. The resulting list contains 276 substances and for some of them (22 antifouling biocides, 32 aquaculture medicinal products and 34 warfare agents) concentrations and toxicity data are additionally provided. This study also provide inform about the current state of knowledge regarding marine contaminant sources and provide support for setting-up of monitoring approaches, including hotspots screening.

Keywords: Contaminants, Pollutants, Sea-based sources of pollution, effect of marine pollution.

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
PROBLEM STATEMENT
AIM/OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 REVIEW OF THE STUDY

2.2 SEA-BASED ACTIVITIES RESULTING IN THE RELEASE OF CONTAMINANTS INTO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

2.2.1. Shipping

2.2.2. Operational discharges

2.2.3. Emissions from antifouling paints

2.2.4. Mariculture

2.2.5. Food additives and contaminants

2.2.6. Offshore activities

2.2.7 Other offshore installations

2.2.8. Seabed mining

3.1 MATERIALS AND METHOD

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 RESULT AND DISUSSION

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY
CONCLUSIONS

5.3 REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Although employment in the field of environmental research is often seen as glamorous, adventurous and exciting, as with many other occupations, specific hazards must be considered in order to maximize safety during routine performance of required tasks. Marine and freshwater scientists are potentially exposed to a wide variety of occupational hazards from the marine environment and equipment they used, risks may include animal attacks, physiological stresses, exposure to toxins and carcinogens, and dangerous environmental conditions (Dardeau et al., 2017). Furthermore, technological developments have expanded the range of environments and conditions in which marine and freshwater researchers are capable of working. For example, advances in dry suit technology have enabled broader polar research, modern ship design has allowed access to open ocean for longer periods of time, and developments in submarine technology has resulted in exploration of deeper water.

While procedures can be implemented to reduce the occupational risks associated with their field, environmental researchers must remain cautious of potential hazards. Marine and freshwater research remains a potentially risky occupation, and the likeli- hood of death, injury and long-term health impacts needs to be seriously considered. Although a substantial quantity of literature deals with various safety issues and the dangers from biota that this group may experience during their work (Schijven et al., 2016) relatively few studies have focused on the specific occupational health aspects of this group, and few if any published studies describing occupational risk are research-specific. Consequently, much of this discussion explores the potential hazards that aquatic researchers may experience and attempts to relate these hazards to marine and freshwater research activity. In contrast, the consequences of increased exposure to specific hazards that marine and freshwater scientists may experience due to their activities, whether they be in the laboratory or the field, have received little attention, and as such, the magnitude of substances and infection is increasing (Schijven et al., 2011) however, despite the relevance to occupational health, relatively little research has been conducted on the consequences of this increased exposure. Furthermore, there is the issue of risk perceptions versus actual (or quantifiable) risk in work-related hazard analysis (Beh et al., 2011). Previous studies have suggested that inaccurate risk perceptions are most likely when unusual and dramatic injuries are sustained (especially animal-related) (Durrheim et al., 2011); injuries which are clearly within the occupational health domain of marine and freshwater researchers. As a result, the current work is focused on studies relating to issues which may impact on occupational health in marine system.

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

There are several activities in the sea which can result different impact on marine system. Several accidents at sea resulting in actual or potential release of radioactive materials have been reported (IAEA, 2015). Artificial radionuclides can also be introduced into the marine environment by under-water testing of nuclear weapons (Benn et al., 2010).

Furthermore, potentially polluting shipwrecks, both recent and relic, can represent a hazard for the marine environment (Alcaro et al., 2007). Between 2.5 and 20.4 million metric tons of oil have been calculated to be contained in sunken wrecks worldwide, which might be released as the shipwrecks deteriorate (Landquist et al., 2013). Deterioration and corrosion of the aged structures can also lead to the leakage of other toxic substances, mainly arsenic, metals such as cadmium, copper, chromium, lead, mercury, and zinc, and other compounds like PCBs, asbestos, biocides, PVC, and radioactive waste (Annibaldi et al., 2011, Sprovieri et al., 2013). This study was carried out to analyze the implication of these pollutants on health.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this study is to analyze the implication of marine systems and equipment on health condition of marine workers

The objectives of the study are:

to determine contaminant concentrations and their biological impacts in offshore marine waters
To provide an integrative marine environment status assessment and considers both coastal and offshore environment, thus overlapping with Water Framework Directive (WFD) for some parts of the marine environment.

To explore the impact of the marine environment on the health and employability of marine workers as well as any new technologies for the control of the effect of risk factors.

To create awareness of marine contaminant risk and to provide safety training for a healthy marine

1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The paper first compiles the relevant contaminants on the basis of the sea-based human activities potentially resulting in their release into the marine environment. For selected groups of identified substances (biocides in ship antifouling paints, medicinal products in the marine aquaculture industry, and main constituents of warfare material dumped at sea), specific information on their concentrations and toxicity in the marine environment is also compiled.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The gathered information is used to create a list of marine-relevant contaminants, which includes their chemical identity and major sea-based sources. This list also gives information on the relevant international regulations which deal with those substances, thus allowing the analysis of their coverage in marine waters.

This study will also serve as a means of providing inform about the current state of knowledge regarding marine contaminant sources and provide support for setting-up of monitoring approaches, including hotspots screening.

1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The information has been gathered through an extensive review of the existing literature, mainly peer-reviewed papers and books, but also reports, assessments and proposals from research projects, conference proceedings, and other literature regarding the occurrence of contaminants in marine waters.