Brian Barton
The English Channel, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France, is the busiest shipping area in the world. It is also one of the most polluted waterways, with high levels of contaminants such as organic compounds, metals, radionuclides, microplastics, and nutrients. In addition, it has been discovered that the British and Belgians dumped 28,500 barrels of radioactive waste into the Channel between 1950 and 1963. The impact of this pollution has been observed in dolphins, with high levels of industrial fluids and mercury found in their skin and blubber.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Radioactivity | Radioactive waste was discovered at the bottom of the English Channel in 2013 |
| Chemical Contamination | Organic compounds, metals, radionuclides, microplastics, and nutrients |
| Riverine Phosphate Loads | Decreasing over time |
| Nitrate Loads | Uniform |
| Algal Biomass | Increased due to terrestrial inputs of nutrients, affecting benthic production and shellfisheries |
| Dolphin Pollutants | High levels of industrial fluids, mercury, and PCBs found in bottlenose dolphins |
| Water Quality | Ongoing management measures aim to restore the surface and quality of estuarine habitats, with observable decreases in pollutant levels |
| Fishing Intensity | High intensity of fishing for many decades |
| Biodiversity | High invertebrate diversity, with new introductions of non-native species |
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What You'll Learn
Radioactive waste
The discovery of these barrels by German journalists in 2013 sparked calls for their removal by German politicians and environmentalists. It was initially assumed that the containers had rusted, releasing radioactivity into the ocean. However, an investigative report revealed that some barrels remained intact, posing a potential threat to the marine environment.
While international law has prohibited ocean dumping of radioactive waste since 1993, the long-term effects of previous disposal practices are still being understood. Today, near-surface disposal and deep geological disposal are the two commonly accepted methods for managing radioactive waste. Near-surface disposal involves storing waste in containers at ground level or in shallow caverns, while deep geological disposal entails placing waste containers in mined tunnels up to 1,000 meters underground, sealed with cement and clay.
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Chemical contamination
The English Channel, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France, is the busiest shipping area in the world. It is also one of the most polluted waterways.
The English Channel has been contaminated with a range of chemicals, including organic compounds, metals, radionuclides, microplastics, and nutrients. These pollutants have been found in the water, sediments, and biota of the Channel.
One of the major sources of chemical contamination in the English Channel is riverine inputs. River loads of pollutants, such as phosphate and nitrate, have been found to affect the Channel's ecosystems. For example, increased nitrate loads have been linked to higher biomass of algae, which has negatively impacted benthic production and shellfisheries.
Agricultural runoff is another significant contributor to chemical contamination in the English Channel. Rivers that cross zones of intense agricultural activity carry pesticides and nitrogen compounds, leading to increased nitrogen isotopic levels in the Channel.
The presence of toxic organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), has also been detected in the English Channel. PCBs were commonly used in plastics, paints, and electrical equipment but were banned several decades ago due to their persistence in the environment. These chemicals can build up in the blubber of dolphins and whales, leading to high levels of pollutants in their bodies.
In addition to PCBs, high concentrations of mercury have been found in the skin and blubber of bottlenose dolphins in the English Channel. Mercury is a toxic metal that can accumulate in the body, leading to health risks for both marine life and humans who consume contaminated seafood.
The historical disposal of radioactive waste in the English Channel has also contributed to chemical contamination. Between 1950 and 1963, it is estimated that the British and Belgians dumped 28,500 barrels of radioactive waste into the Channel. While international law has prohibited this practice since 1993, the long-term effects of this contamination are still being studied.
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Mercury in dolphins
Dolphins in the English Channel are exposed to a dangerous "cocktail of pollutants", including toxic mercury. A study found some of the highest recorded levels of toxic chemicals and mercury in the bodies of bottlenose dolphins off the French coast. The Channel is home to one of the last remaining large European populations of bottlenose dolphins.
Belgian and French scientists detected high accumulations of industrial fluids and mercury in the blubber and skin of dolphins in the waters off the northwest coast of France. The chemicals work their way up to the top of the food chain and have a disastrous impact on an animal's fertility and immune system.
The chemicals often used as refrigerants are extremely durable, which is why they have remained in the ecosystem four decades after being outlawed. They can dissolve in fats and oils and consist of the by-products of various industrial processes and pesticides.
Bottlenose dolphins are often used to study levels of environmental pollutants as the organic compounds accumulate within their thick layer of fatty tissue. The chemicals can also be passed from mother dolphins to their calves during pregnancy and lactation.
Due to the high levels of mercury and pollutants discovered in the dolphins in the English Channel, researchers recommend that the Normanno-Breton Gulf become a conservation area to ensure that Europe’s largest population of coastal bottlenose dolphins is protected.
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Algae biomass increase
The English Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, with a long history of human activity. As such, it has faced a variety of pollution issues, including chemical contamination from organic compounds, metals, radionuclides, microplastics, and nutrients.
One of the key issues affecting the English Channel is the increased biomass of algae, which has impacted benthic production and shellfisheries. This increase in algae can be attributed to terrestrial inputs of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from sources such as fertilizer runoff and other forms of nutrient pollution.
Algal blooms, or harmful algal blooms (HABs), occur when there is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems. This can be caused by an increase in nutrients, causing excessive growth of algae. HABs can have both benign and harmful effects on the ecosystem. While they can provide food and nutrients for other organisms, they can also block sunlight from reaching other organisms, deplete oxygen levels in the water, and secrete toxins that can be harmful to humans, animals, and fish.
HABs are a key feature of the western English Channel's productivity and can impact important commercial species. They can be influenced by factors such as rainfall, river discharge, and temperature, and their occurrence may be predictable through these factors.
To manage algal blooms, there are three major categories: mitigation, prevention, and control. Mitigation includes routine monitoring of toxins in shellfish and overall surveillance of the area to detect and quantify HABs. Prevention involves reducing surface runoff carrying excess nutrients by increasing the number of permeable surfaces and vegetation to absorb the runoff.
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Riverine phosphate
The English Channel has been a site for the disposal of radioactive waste. Between 1950 and 1963, the British and Belgians dumped 28,500 barrels of radioactive waste in the waterway. This has resulted in the contamination of the Channel's coastal and transitional waters.
The changes in nitrate:phosphate ratios are important because they influence phytoplankton assimilation and nutrient regeneration. For example, in the summer of 2007, elevated river run-off contributed to the development of haline stratification, which supported an intense bloom of the centric diatom Chaetoceros debelis. This bloom had a maximum observed chlorophyll a concentration of 8.69 μg l−1.
The presence of phosphate in water bodies is a challenging environmental issue that needs to be addressed through proper planning and development. To protect the quality of watercourses, organisations like Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have adopted tighter targets and conducted assessments to identify breaches.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the English Channel is polluted. It is contaminated with organic compounds, metals, radionuclides, microplastics, and nutrients.
The English Channel contains chemical pollution, including organic pollutants, industrial fluids, and mercury. It is also contaminated with PCBs, which are found in plastics, paints, and electrical equipment.
Pollution has been found to impact the health of dolphins and whales in the English Channel. High levels of pollutants, such as industrial fluids and mercury, have been found in the skin and blubber of dolphins. PCBs can build up in the blubber of dolphins and whales.
Efforts are being made to restore the quality of estuarine habitats in the Seine estuary, with significant decreases in pollutant levels observed. Ongoing management measures aim to protect the dolphin population, which is one of Europe's largest, from the effects of marine pollution.
