1.1
Background
CCI 250, a corrosion inhibitor, is proposed for use
during hydrotesting of the proposed gas pipeline
between the Proposed LNG terminal on
The UK-based manufacturer was required to assess CCI
250’s environmental effects. “The test results were submitted
to CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Agricultural Science – an
Executive Agency for the UK Government) and was accepted onto the List
for Approved Products suitable for use by the North Sea Oil and Gas Industry. The Product Based Hazard Quotient given as 2.40E-02, one of the the ‘least environmentally hazardous’ classifications. Subject to normal government
restrictions, CCI 250 can therefore be discharged into the marine environment.”
Under the European offshore notification scheme, the
use of CCI 250 is accepted by countries of the European Community including
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Switerland, all of which are signatories of the OSPAR
agreement for the protection of the marine environment. Furthermore, according
to the manufacturer, the use of CCI 250 is approved in countries such as
The tests on CCI 250 were conducted to determine
biodegradability, bioaccumulation and toxicity. These
demonstrated CCI 250 has good biodegradability and low bioaccumulation.
Toxicity of CCI 250 was based on tests using:
·
Fish – Juvenile turbot Scophthalmus maximus (synonymous with Psetta maxima)
·
Sediment reworkers - amphipod Corophium volutator
·
Marine algae – the diatom Skeletonema costatum; and,
·
Marine invertebrates – the copepod Acartia tonsa
The results of the toxicity tests were summarised as
follows ([1]) :
·
Fish (juvenile Turbot Scophthalmus maximus): tested in accordance with OECD Guideline 203
to determine a 96 hour LC50 value (the Lowest Concentration to kill
50% of the fish during a 96 hour test).
All the fish survived the test, so the LC50 value was
determined to be >1000.0 mg per litre.
That is, CCI 250 was determined to
be relatively harmeless to fish.
·
Sediment reworkers (amphipod Corophium volutator): test method based on PARCOM
(Paris Commision Protocol) 1995, a 240 hour
test. The LC50 was found
to be 7024.8 mg kg-1 dry weight of sediment, with the NOEC (No
Observable Effect Concentration) found to be less than 5623.4 mg kg-1. These
results showed CCI 250 to have a low toxicity to sediment reworkers.
·
Marine algae (Skeletonema costatum): tested in accordance with ISO?DIS 10253 over 72 hours. The EC50 value (Effective
Concentration, the amount of material which inhibited algal growth rate by 50%
over the test period) was calculated to be 23.2 mg l-1. The NOEC was determined to be 17.8 mg l-1. This
showed CCI 250 was moderately toxic to marine algae.
·
Marine Invertebrates (copepod Acartia tonsa): tested according to the draft
method ISO 14669:1999(E) over 48 hours. The EC50 value (Effective Concentration,
the amount of material which immobilised 50% of the copepods over the test
period) was calculated to be 260.1 mg l-1. This
test showed CCI 250 had a relatively low toxicity level to marine invertebrates.
1.2
Purpose of this Note
This note discusses the applicability of these
toxicity test findings in the Hong Kong environment in terms of suitability of
test organisms to reflect effects on
1.3
Relevance of Test Organisms
1.3.1
Scophthalmus maximus
The flounder Scophthalmus maximus is a
commercially important temperate predatory benthic species, living on sandy,
muddy, rocky and mixed bottom habitat, and particularly favours brackish areas.
Its natural range is along European coast including the Baltic and North Sea
and it also occurs in the warmer Mediterranean and Black Seas as well as off
Northwest Africa ([2]).
In
Although, this fish does not naturally occur in
Based on this information, it is considered there is
no reason to suggest that Scophthalmus maximus is not a suitable test organism for reflecting
toxicity effects in the
1.3.2
Corophium volutator
The amphipod Corophium volutator (sometimes called a “mud-shrimp” or “scud”)
is a burrowing benthic animal which inhabits muddy bottom habitat. It is
deposit and filter feeder that sifts the organic material (such as micro-algae
and bacteria) from mud particles.
In terms of its distribution, it is predominantly a European species,
occurring from Scandinavia to the warmer waters of the
Although Corophium volutator is not found locally, there are 10 species in
the Family Corophiidae in
Given that there are highly related Corophium species
in Hong Kong which have representatives from temperate regions, it is
considered there is no reason to suggest that Corophium volutator is not a suitable test
organism for reflecting toxicity effects in the
1.3.3
Skeletonema costatum
The diatom Skeletonema costatum is a cosmopolitan algal species found in
coastal waters of all the world’s oceans.
It thrives in
Given that this species occurs locally, there is no
reason to suggest that Skeletonema costatum is
not a suitable test organism for reflecting toxicity effects in the
1.3.4
Acartia tonsa
Acartia tonsa
has a widespread global distribution which includes tropical waters. It has been recorded from the Indian Ocean, off the Malay Archipelago, the Caribbean, and along the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the North and
Although, it appears Arcatia tonsa has not been recorded from
Based on this information, it is considered there is
no reason to suggest that Arcatia tonsa is not a suitable test organism for reflecting
toxicity effects in the