Evaluating the hazards of harmful substances carried by ships: the role of GESAMP and its EHS working group.

GESAMP's EHS working group, evaluation of the hazards of harmful substances carried by ships, contributed in the early 1970s to the chemical carriage provisions (Annexes II and III) of the MARPOL Convention, and after formal setup in 1974 under IMCO/IMO, has evaluated the hazards of approximately 2200 chemical substances transported worldwide by shipping. Hazard ratings for chemicals based on five criteria: bioaccumulation in marine organisms and tainting of seafood; damage to marine life defined by aquatic toxicity thresholds; acute hazard to human health, defined by oral intake; hazard to human health on the basis of skin or eye contact; and reduction of amenities, have been assigned by the working group experts (30 scientists from 11 countries overall). The ratings are used by IMO committes to assign marine pollution categories under MARPOL 73/78, ensuring that shipping of chemicals in bulk or as packaged goods is conducted with due consideration for ship type, guidelines for discharges from tank cleaning and deballasting operations, packaging and labeling and response during accidents or loss. Since 1995, the working group has reviewed and revised its hazard criteria, and largely harmonized them with OECD. This will ensure compatibility of criteria and approaches across transport sectors. The criteria now include two measures of bioaccumulation, biodegradation, chronic toxicity to aquatic organisms, additional human health endpoints, and effects on marine wildlife and benthic habitats. The working group maintains a composite list of evaluations of hazards of harmful substances at IMO, London.