St. Maarten Private Eye

SXM Pride and Ocean Care Press letter on anti fouling paints - 27th February 2006

No one can deny that the Simpson Bay lagoon of today is a cesspit. It is obvious that part of the problem is caused by raw sewage - through overflowing septic tanks, runoff water and drainage. However, there is more happening; the lagoon is being used as a dumpsite for whatever waste needs to be discarded.

The picture in the Herald was not of the slow release of antifouling paint, but showed a spill or leak, or dumping of a paint-like substance which happened to have a copper color and ended up in the area of FedEx.

Last Sunday, St Maarten Pride and Ocean Care went back to the lagoon and noticed that indeed the water seemed to be much clearer. This means the pollution was either caused by a spill, or it is indeed a week-day thing.

We beg to differ that anybody will be able to find the cause of pollution in the lagoon by merely looking and smelling. The worst kinds of chemical toxins may not smell, and may not cause discolorations. The University of Florida is willing to do a pollution study if funding can be found. We suggest that all those so concerned about the Lagoon help us find the money and let the Florida International University do the study, and then will we have a broader picture of the pollution in the Lagoon.

Regardless of the outcome of this study, allow us to contradict the fact that copper is not a substantial pollutant as was stated by Mr.Ferron, Even though copper is an essential micronutrient, it is the second most toxic metal next to mercury if found in high concentrations . In (marine)life, copper interferes mainly with the function of cell membranes. Even if the metals do not cause death, there can be sub-lethal effects. Concentrations of 0.212 ppm copper and 0.525 ppm zinc have been shown to reduce feeding and oxygen consumption for some crustaceans. The metals inhibit the chemoreceptors of marine animals, affecting food ingestion. They also can affect the nervous system, disrupting prey capture and manipulation

Copper levels in drinking water above 1 ppm can cause jaundice, pancreatitis, poisoning of the red blood cells, gastrointestinal problems and anemia. Minor inconveniences are that the presence of copper affects water's taste and may stain porcelain toilets and sinks.

Hull paints for ships account for as much as 33% of copper pollution in the oceans - reason enough for some European countries including Denmark and The Netherlands to have banned its use in antifouling paints (in the Netherlands since 1999). The bans have been based on evidence that such substances do indeed have a negative impact on the marine environment.
To companies that are genuinly concerned about our environment we would like to suggest they set their own standards, without waiting for laws to be passed, trying to be as environmentally friendly as possible, e.g. by not selling substances that are banned in other parts of the world, more so if environmental alternatives exist. They might also try to help collect the waste which is generated by the products they import.
Going back to the dumping of hazerdous material in the lagoon, and other places for that matter we want to make a request. Even though there is no excuse for simply throwing paint down the drain, it would make a big difference if a central collection could be arranged for chemical waste, including batteries, paint and other toxic material. Because even if not dumped in the lagoon, it does not help very much to dump it on the landfill either - at some point everything ends up in the water.
St Maarten Pride Foundation and Ocean Care are non-governmental, non-profit organisations, who are speaking out in the interest of the environment without any commercial or political interest. Projects initiated by the foundations are done on a volunteer basis, without any monetary compensation or salaries for its volunteers.

For more information on the toxicity of metals in the marine environment:

- Anderson, B.S. & J.W. Hunt. 1988. Bioassay methods of evaluating the toxicity of heavy metals, biocides and sewage effluent using microscopic stages of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera (Agardh): a preliminary report. Marine Environmental Research 26: 113-134.
- Davies, A.G. 1983. The effects of heavy metals upon natural marine phytoplankton populations. Prog. Phylcol. Res. 2: 113-145.
- Sorentino,C. 1979. The effects of heavy metals on phytoplankton - a review. Phykos 18: 149-161.
- Stauber, J.L. & T.M. Florence. 1987. Mechanisms of toxicity of ionic copper and copper complexes to algae. Marine Biology 94: 511-519.

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