A review on the environmental impacts of shipping on aquatic and nearshore ecosystems

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2019-12, Vol.695, p.133637-133637, Article 133637
• Main Authors: Jägerbrand, Annika K., Brutemark, Andreas, Barthel Svedén, Jennie, Gren, Ing-Marie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antifouling paint; Antifouling paints; Aquatic ecosystems; Cargo spills; Climate change; Ecological consequences; Environmental consequences; Environmental impact; Environmental Sciences; Marine litter; Miljövetenskap; Nonindigenous species; Operational discharges; Scientific literature; Ships; Shore protection; Shoreline erosion; Synergistic effect; Transport planning; Wastewater
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133637

There are several environmental and ecological effects of shipping. However, these are rarely assessed in total in the scientific literature. Thus, the aim of this study was to summarize the different impacts of water-based transport on aquatic and nearshore ecosystems and to identify knowledge gaps and areas for future research. The review identified several environmental and ecological consequences within the main impact categories of water discharges, physical impacts, and air emissions. However, although quantitative data on these consequences are generally scarce the shipping contribution to acidification by SOx- and NOx-emissions has been quantified to some extent. There are several knowledge gaps regarding the ecological consequences of, for example, the increasing amount of chemicals transported on water, the spread of non-indigenous species coupled with climate change, and physical impacts such as shipping noise and artificial light. The whole plethora of environmental consequences, as well as potential synergistic effects, should be seriously considered in transport planning. [Display omitted] •There is a plethora of environmental and ecological effects of shipping.•Main impact categories are water discharges, physical impacts and air emissions.•A general lack of quantitative data on shipping derived environmental effects.•The shipping contribution to acidification has been quantified.•A holistic approach and synergistic effects of parameters are missing.