This entry was originally posted on 28 July 2008 on the Irish Military Online (IMO) Discussion Board for the Navy & Naval Reserve in the Irish Steel Mill thread by "Boffin Island" Recruit.
These extracts are from Irish Examiner 28 July 2008:
Moustache forever? O’Dea answers your questions
By Paul O’Brien, Political Correspondent
THE need to “tighten the belt” because of the economic squeeze should not mean cutting anybody’s wages — politicians included, Defence Minister Willie O’Dea has said.
In the first of a new series in which Irish Examiner readers get to quiz members of the Cabinet, Mr O’Dea answers questions on a wide range of issues today — from the Lisbon Treaty to The Simpsons television show. … Elsewhere, Mr O’Dea says there are no indications that the toxic waste at the former Irish Ispat/Steel plant in Haulbowline, Co Cork, poses a threat to those working on the naval base which is in close proximity.
When demolition of the steelworks at the plant commenced in 2005, dust-monitoring equipment was installed.
“The data collected to date does not suggest that activities on the steelworks site have had a significant impact on the environment or might pose a threat to the Naval Services at Haulbowline,” Mr O’Dea says.
As a precaution, the Department of Defence has hired consultants to carry out soil and air analysis across the naval base. …
Can you give assurances that the toxic waste buried on the old Irish Steel/Ispat site on Haulbowline poses no threat to the navy?
D McCARTHY, Bishopstown, Cork city
O'Dea answers: “The health and safety of all Defence Force personnel and employees is of primary concern to me. There is currently no indication that the situation at the former Ispat site represents any risk to the health of Naval Service personnel or civilian employees at the naval base.
When demolition of the steelworks at Haulbowline commenced in the summer of 2005, it was agreed by all interested parties that dust monitoring equipment be installed on the naval base. The monitoring equipment selected and installed in two locations on the base includes Bergerhoff dust deposition gauges, to record total dust fall-out on a monthly basis, and PM-10 monitors to record the respirable fraction of fine dust in real time. In layman’s terms, this means that dust-generating events on the steelworks site can be identified and controlled as they happen.
The data collected to date does not suggest that activities on the steelworks site have had a significant impact on the environment or might pose a threat to the Naval Services at Haulbowline.
Purely as a precautionary measure — following the excavations on the East Tip — we have engaged environmental consultants RPS Group plc. They will carry out sampling and conduct soil and air analysis across the naval base checking for heavy metals and other species. This investigation has already commenced. It is expected to be completed by the end of August.”
12 August 2008
No place to be a dolphin
By Karlos Marx
PCBs, Cadmium, Chromium 6, Copper, Lead, Nickel, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons… Is this anyway to treat our cetacean cousins?
The scandalous saga of former Irish Ispat and the toxic slag heap from hell (East Tip) on Haulbowline Island is not just a human health disaster. It is also a very real threat to the several species of protected marine mammals which frequent Cork Harbour.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has recorded schools of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) on numerous occasions. Also harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and orca (Orcinus orca). Other species sighted within Cork Harbour include common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and even the odd stray Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) and pilot whale (Globicephala melas). Neither should we forget the seals: the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and grey seal (Halichoerus grypus).
Bottlenose dolphins were observed off Ringaskiddy in August 2003 when 20 or so animals including a calf remained in the vicinity for nearly a fortnight. According to the IWDG they were using an area between East Ferry, Spike Island, Haulbowline, Roche’s Pt. and outside the harbour from Myrtleville (IWDG). Similar bottlenose activity was reported in Cork Harbour in August 2002. In September 2005 a group of between 20-30 bottlenose dolphins were seen bow-riding a container ship in front of Cobh, and between Spike Island and Whitegate refinery (IWDG).
In May 2007 a school of bottlenose dolphins was seen bow-riding the naval vessel LE Aisling, east of Cobh Town, near the Cork Harbour pilots station (IWDG). They were also seen in the Passage West/Lough Mahon inner harbour area and feeding on grey mullet alongside the LE Ciara off Whitepoint. On previous days they were sighted between Passage West and Great Island, Cobh and between Whitepoint and Ringaskiddy, where they have been observed feeding in water as shallow as 2-3m depth (14/5/07).
Local IWDG members, Conor Ryan and Peter Wilson have been monitoring a school of six ‘resident’ bottlenose dolphins, which in favourable weather can be seen on a near daily basis from places like Roche’s Point, Camden and Carlisle Forts.
The IWDG states: ‘In common with all 24 Irish cetacean species, bottlenose dolphins are afforded full protection under the Irish Wildlife Act 1976. In addition, along with the much smaller harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), they are also an Annex II species on the EU habitats directive, which means that both the animals and their habitats are afforded priority protection under EU law.’
All marine mammals are protected in Irish waters under the 1976 and 2000 Wildlife Acts. Under the 1992 EU Habitats Directive, all cetaceans are included in Annex IV of the Directive as species ‘in need of strict protection’. Bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, grey and harbour seals are all additionally included in Annex II of the directive as species requiring the establishment of Special Areas of Conservation (marine SAC).
Clearly, this raises questions about the threat to the conservation status of these species posed by the former Ispat site and toxic East Tip that forms a significant intertidal part of Haulbowline Island. The Island is known to be surrounded by marine sediments contaminated with high levels of heavy metals, complex aromatic hydrocarbons, endocrine-system disrupting PCBs and other hazardous organic substances that were introduced into the Cork Harbour marine ecosystem and food web by the ongoing industrial (including brownfield remediation) activity on Haulbowline.
Is it time that higher authorities (the European Commission, OSPAR Commission, Convention on Migratory Species?) become involved and demand that the Irish Government stop their delaying tactics, corner-cutting, penny-pinching and procrastination and just get on with the job of securing and cleaning up this toxic threat to the marine ecosystem and its protected species?
PCBs, Cadmium, Chromium 6, Copper, Lead, Nickel, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons… Is this anyway to treat our cetacean cousins?
The scandalous saga of former Irish Ispat and the toxic slag heap from hell (East Tip) on Haulbowline Island is not just a human health disaster. It is also a very real threat to the several species of protected marine mammals which frequent Cork Harbour.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has recorded schools of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) on numerous occasions. Also harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and orca (Orcinus orca). Other species sighted within Cork Harbour include common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and even the odd stray Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) and pilot whale (Globicephala melas). Neither should we forget the seals: the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and grey seal (Halichoerus grypus).
Bottlenose dolphins were observed off Ringaskiddy in August 2003 when 20 or so animals including a calf remained in the vicinity for nearly a fortnight. According to the IWDG they were using an area between East Ferry, Spike Island, Haulbowline, Roche’s Pt. and outside the harbour from Myrtleville (IWDG). Similar bottlenose activity was reported in Cork Harbour in August 2002. In September 2005 a group of between 20-30 bottlenose dolphins were seen bow-riding a container ship in front of Cobh, and between Spike Island and Whitegate refinery (IWDG).
In May 2007 a school of bottlenose dolphins was seen bow-riding the naval vessel LE Aisling, east of Cobh Town, near the Cork Harbour pilots station (IWDG). They were also seen in the Passage West/Lough Mahon inner harbour area and feeding on grey mullet alongside the LE Ciara off Whitepoint. On previous days they were sighted between Passage West and Great Island, Cobh and between Whitepoint and Ringaskiddy, where they have been observed feeding in water as shallow as 2-3m depth (14/5/07).
Local IWDG members, Conor Ryan and Peter Wilson have been monitoring a school of six ‘resident’ bottlenose dolphins, which in favourable weather can be seen on a near daily basis from places like Roche’s Point, Camden and Carlisle Forts.
The IWDG states: ‘In common with all 24 Irish cetacean species, bottlenose dolphins are afforded full protection under the Irish Wildlife Act 1976. In addition, along with the much smaller harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), they are also an Annex II species on the EU habitats directive, which means that both the animals and their habitats are afforded priority protection under EU law.’
All marine mammals are protected in Irish waters under the 1976 and 2000 Wildlife Acts. Under the 1992 EU Habitats Directive, all cetaceans are included in Annex IV of the Directive as species ‘in need of strict protection’. Bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, grey and harbour seals are all additionally included in Annex II of the directive as species requiring the establishment of Special Areas of Conservation (marine SAC).
Clearly, this raises questions about the threat to the conservation status of these species posed by the former Ispat site and toxic East Tip that forms a significant intertidal part of Haulbowline Island. The Island is known to be surrounded by marine sediments contaminated with high levels of heavy metals, complex aromatic hydrocarbons, endocrine-system disrupting PCBs and other hazardous organic substances that were introduced into the Cork Harbour marine ecosystem and food web by the ongoing industrial (including brownfield remediation) activity on Haulbowline.
Is it time that higher authorities (the European Commission, OSPAR Commission, Convention on Migratory Species?) become involved and demand that the Irish Government stop their delaying tactics, corner-cutting, penny-pinching and procrastination and just get on with the job of securing and cleaning up this toxic threat to the marine ecosystem and its protected species?
Told you the shrimp was off!
By Seriously Concerned (& Others) of Cobh/Haulbowline
Until recently, it was common to see the lads of various ages fishing with rod and tackle from the bridge between Ringaskiddy and Haulbowline Island. Also down on the shore at both Paddy’s Point and Rocky Island.
In the middle of July 2008, even after the Chromium 6 had hit the fan (front page Irish Examiner 26/6/08), at least two local potting boats were seen by Cobh residents fishing off the toxic East Tip. Apart from the obvious likelihood of heavy metal poisoning for anyone eating the shrimp, green crab or lobster catch, the pots probably disturb the sediments and help redistribute the heavy metals and other contaminants around Cork Harbour.
On 11 July 2008 she told Mark Masterson (Senior Scientist with White Young Green Environmental (Ireland) Ltd) who is currently investigating sediment contamination around Haulbowline Island as part of WYG consultancy report to the Department of the Environment, due in late August:
The Marine Institute spreadsheet data highlighted in red clearly show that mussels at Ringaskiddy are contaminated with lead (Pb) and in the past (when Ispat was active) with Cadmium, Zinc and probably other metals as well. Note that not all the toxic metals known to be in East Tip (Appendix I of WYG 2005 report) are being monitored!
The limits (i.e. “strictest standard and guidance values applied by various OSPARCOM countries for contaminants in shellfish for the assessment of the possible hazards to human health”) that we added to the spreadsheet are taken from Department of the Marine July 1995 document.
* Mussels are sedentary filter-feeders which readily accumulate contaminants from the surrounding seawater and are recommended indicators of marine environmental quality.
Sediment contamination
It is, of course, unsurprising that the marine sediments both around Haulbowline and within the Naval Base Dockyard are contaminated with the full range of toxic waste and settled dust emissions from the former Irish Steel/Ispat site on the Island.
The ‘Report of Seabed Samples - Naval Base Haulbowline, June 2003’ by Hydrographic Surveys Ltd of Crosshaven for the Department of Defence at Haulbowline clearly shows high levels of sediment contamination at the Naval Basin (locations 1-5), near Spencer’s Jetty (locations 6-7) and in front of the recently burned out Glucksman Marine Building, which housed the UCC Coastal and Marine Resources Centre overlooking Rat Island (location 8).
The samples were collected on 23 June 2003 and analysed by Mercury Analytical Ltd, Limerick. Note: 1 ‘part per million’ (ppm) is the same as 1 ‘mg/kg’.
* BC or “Background concentrations” are OSPAR assessment tools intended to represent the concentrations of certain hazardous substances that would be expected in the North-East Atlantic if certain industrial developments had not happened. They represent the concentrations of those substances at “remote” sites, or in “pristine” conditions based on contemporary or historical data respectively, in the absence of significant mineralisation and/or oceanographic influences. In this way they relate to the background values referred to in the OSPAR Hazardous Substances Strategy. BCs do not represent target values and should not be used as such. Source: Agreement on Background Concentrations for Contaminants in Seawater, Biota and Sediment (OSPAR Agreement 2005-6).
This is not new knowledge. A 1992 report ‘Analysis of sediments from Haulbowline’ by EOLAS for the Department of Defence at the Naval Base. In June 1997 the report ‘Haulbowline Naval Base - Analysis of Sediment Prior to Dredging and Disposal by Dumping at Sea’ commissioned by the Department of the Marine and carried out by UCC Aquatic Services Unit, gives the following (highest) levels of metals in sediments (mg/kg) in the Naval Basin:
It is not just around Haulbowline Island that the sediments are contaminated. Analyses of sediment grab samples taken just off Cobh deepwater quay (west of the Heritage Centre and railway station) by Glover Site Investigations Ltd in June 2007 and September 2007 in connection with dredging on either side of the existing berthing basin for the giant cruise ships found similarly (highest) levels of metals (mg/kg):
So, anyone fancy fish for supper?
Until recently, it was common to see the lads of various ages fishing with rod and tackle from the bridge between Ringaskiddy and Haulbowline Island. Also down on the shore at both Paddy’s Point and Rocky Island.
In the middle of July 2008, even after the Chromium 6 had hit the fan (front page Irish Examiner 26/6/08), at least two local potting boats were seen by Cobh residents fishing off the toxic East Tip. Apart from the obvious likelihood of heavy metal poisoning for anyone eating the shrimp, green crab or lobster catch, the pots probably disturb the sediments and help redistribute the heavy metals and other contaminants around Cork Harbour.
- Why are there no “fishing prohibited” notices around Ringaskiddy, Cobh, Rocky Island and Haulbowline to warn anglers (including the large number of visitors to Cork Harbour from elsewhere in Ireland and from overseas who wouldn’t be aware of the local dangers of the Ispat legacy)?
- Why are fishing boats still potting, especially off the East Tip? We thought there was supposed to be a ban on fishing these toxic grounds anyway?
- What happened to the catch? Did the shrimps and/or other crustaceans get sold locally (to posh restaurants) or was it exported and is now poisoning some Spanish kid?
- What does BIM and the Marine Institute have to say about this travesty?
On 11 July 2008 she told Mark Masterson (Senior Scientist with White Young Green Environmental (Ireland) Ltd) who is currently investigating sediment contamination around Haulbowline Island as part of WYG consultancy report to the Department of the Environment, due in late August:
“You will note high lead (Pb) at the site near Ringaskiddy - shoreline on the channel opposite Spike Island”That would be Paddy’s Point and the West Channel then.
The Marine Institute spreadsheet data highlighted in red clearly show that mussels at Ringaskiddy are contaminated with lead (Pb) and in the past (when Ispat was active) with Cadmium, Zinc and probably other metals as well. Note that not all the toxic metals known to be in East Tip (Appendix I of WYG 2005 report) are being monitored!
The limits (i.e. “strictest standard and guidance values applied by various OSPARCOM countries for contaminants in shellfish for the assessment of the possible hazards to human health”) that we added to the spreadsheet are taken from Department of the Marine July 1995 document.
* Mussels are sedentary filter-feeders which readily accumulate contaminants from the surrounding seawater and are recommended indicators of marine environmental quality.
Sediment contamination
It is, of course, unsurprising that the marine sediments both around Haulbowline and within the Naval Base Dockyard are contaminated with the full range of toxic waste and settled dust emissions from the former Irish Steel/Ispat site on the Island.
The ‘Report of Seabed Samples - Naval Base Haulbowline, June 2003’ by Hydrographic Surveys Ltd of Crosshaven for the Department of Defence at Haulbowline clearly shows high levels of sediment contamination at the Naval Basin (locations 1-5), near Spencer’s Jetty (locations 6-7) and in front of the recently burned out Glucksman Marine Building, which housed the UCC Coastal and Marine Resources Centre overlooking Rat Island (location 8).
The samples were collected on 23 June 2003 and analysed by Mercury Analytical Ltd, Limerick. Note: 1 ‘part per million’ (ppm) is the same as 1 ‘mg/kg’.
| | | Haulbowline mg/kg (or ppm) | Sample Location |
| Cadmium | 0.20 | 0.08 | 5 Basin |
| Chromium | 60.00 | 14.50 | 5 Basin |
| Copper | 20.00 | 45.00 | 5 Basin |
| Lead | 35.00 | 85.40 | 5 Basin |
| Mercury | 0.05 | 0.49 | 5 Basin |
| Nickel | 30.00 | 12.40 | 5 Basin |
| Zinc | 90.00 | 679.00 | 5 Basin |
* BC or “Background concentrations” are OSPAR assessment tools intended to represent the concentrations of certain hazardous substances that would be expected in the North-East Atlantic if certain industrial developments had not happened. They represent the concentrations of those substances at “remote” sites, or in “pristine” conditions based on contemporary or historical data respectively, in the absence of significant mineralisation and/or oceanographic influences. In this way they relate to the background values referred to in the OSPAR Hazardous Substances Strategy. BCs do not represent target values and should not be used as such. Source: Agreement on Background Concentrations for Contaminants in Seawater, Biota and Sediment (OSPAR Agreement 2005-6).
This is not new knowledge. A 1992 report ‘Analysis of sediments from Haulbowline’ by EOLAS for the Department of Defence at the Naval Base. In June 1997 the report ‘Haulbowline Naval Base - Analysis of Sediment Prior to Dredging and Disposal by Dumping at Sea’ commissioned by the Department of the Marine and carried out by UCC Aquatic Services Unit, gives the following (highest) levels of metals in sediments (mg/kg) in the Naval Basin:
| | 1992 | 1997 |
| Arsenic | 9.1 | 50 |
| Cadmium | <0.9 | <1 |
| Chromium | 45.1 | 147 |
| Copper | 46.2 | 114 |
| Lead | 53 | 68 |
| Manganese | 401.4 | 509 |
| Mercury | <0.15 | 0.217 |
| Nickel | 26.1 | 57 |
| Zinc | 191.9 | 337 |
It is not just around Haulbowline Island that the sediments are contaminated. Analyses of sediment grab samples taken just off Cobh deepwater quay (west of the Heritage Centre and railway station) by Glover Site Investigations Ltd in June 2007 and September 2007 in connection with dredging on either side of the existing berthing basin for the giant cruise ships found similarly (highest) levels of metals (mg/kg):
| | June 2007 | Sept 2007 |
| Arsenic | 6.45 | 12.9 |
| Cadmium | <0.1 | 0.045 |
| Chromium | 45.8 | 21.7 |
| Copper | 19.6 | 7.1 |
| Lead | 78.2 | 10.6 |
| Mercury | <2.0 | <0.05 |
| Nickel | 50.6 | 18.0 |
| Zinc | 125 | 47.9 |
So, anyone fancy fish for supper?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)