14AUG2019 - NEWS - Discharging ‘scrubber wash water’ poses serious danger to oceans

Industry experts have warned that the indiscriminate discharge of scrubber wash water into the sea could pose serious risks to marine life and human health.

Some Philippine ships use the scrubbers or chemicals used to remove pollutants from engine exhaust. Scrubbers are akin to a car’s exhaust filter, as they can reduce or remove pollutants from the ship’s fuel chemical process to release clean smoke. With scrubbers, there’s a pollutant residue such as scrubber wash water that could harm marine life and pollute the sea.

The dangers of discharging scrubber wash water into the sea include the poisoning of marine life. It can also lead to increased toxic levels, decreased pH levels, and acid rain. Abatement measures can mitigate the dangers of scrubber wash, industry experts said.