Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquaculture
Abstract Co-locating aquaculture with Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) is a novel global energy sustainability policy driver. However, trace elements (TEs) from turbine corrosion-protection systems could generate significant ecosystem, economic, and human health risks. We calculate annual inputs for curre...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | npj Ocean Sustainability |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-024-00101-6 |
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| author | G. J. Watson G. Banfield S. C. L. Watson N. J. Beaumont A. Hodkin |
| author_facet | G. J. Watson G. Banfield S. C. L. Watson N. J. Beaumont A. Hodkin |
| author_sort | G. J. Watson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Co-locating aquaculture with Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) is a novel global energy sustainability policy driver. However, trace elements (TEs) from turbine corrosion-protection systems could generate significant ecosystem, economic, and human health risks. We calculate annual inputs for current European OWF capacity (30 GW) as: 3219 t aluminium, 1148 t zinc and 1.9 t indium, but these will increase ~12× by 2050, eclipsing known discharges. However, a paucity of industry data makes it impossible to compare water and sediment TE concentrations at operational OWFs against toxicity thresholds, therefore, ecotoxicological risks are under assessed. TE accumulation in seafood is a major human exposure route. Accumulated high tissue concentrations in oysters, mussels and kelp during co-location culture would contribute significantly to or greatly exceed (e.g. oyster zinc accumulation) an adult’s Tolerable Weekly Intake. We provide an industry/regulator ‘road map’ for implementing key policy changes to minimise unintended risks of rapid global OWF expansion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ed21bff05e974aec8522fa69fc176fdd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-426X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Ocean Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-ed21bff05e974aec8522fa69fc176fdd2025-01-19T12:14:36ZengNature Portfolionpj Ocean Sustainability2731-426X2025-01-014111010.1038/s44183-024-00101-6Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquacultureG. J. Watson0G. Banfield1S. C. L. Watson2N. J. Beaumont3A. Hodkin4Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of PortsmouthInstitute of Marine Sciences, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of PortsmouthPlymouth Marine LaboratoryPlymouth Marine LaboratoryInstitute of Marine Sciences, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of PortsmouthAbstract Co-locating aquaculture with Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) is a novel global energy sustainability policy driver. However, trace elements (TEs) from turbine corrosion-protection systems could generate significant ecosystem, economic, and human health risks. We calculate annual inputs for current European OWF capacity (30 GW) as: 3219 t aluminium, 1148 t zinc and 1.9 t indium, but these will increase ~12× by 2050, eclipsing known discharges. However, a paucity of industry data makes it impossible to compare water and sediment TE concentrations at operational OWFs against toxicity thresholds, therefore, ecotoxicological risks are under assessed. TE accumulation in seafood is a major human exposure route. Accumulated high tissue concentrations in oysters, mussels and kelp during co-location culture would contribute significantly to or greatly exceed (e.g. oyster zinc accumulation) an adult’s Tolerable Weekly Intake. We provide an industry/regulator ‘road map’ for implementing key policy changes to minimise unintended risks of rapid global OWF expansion.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-024-00101-6 |
| spellingShingle | G. J. Watson G. Banfield S. C. L. Watson N. J. Beaumont A. Hodkin Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquaculture npj Ocean Sustainability |
| title | Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquaculture |
| title_full | Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquaculture |
| title_fullStr | Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquaculture |
| title_full_unstemmed | Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquaculture |
| title_short | Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquaculture |
| title_sort | offshore wind energy assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co location of aquaculture |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-024-00101-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gjwatson offshorewindenergyassessingtraceelementinputsandtherisksforcolocationofaquaculture AT gbanfield offshorewindenergyassessingtraceelementinputsandtherisksforcolocationofaquaculture AT sclwatson offshorewindenergyassessingtraceelementinputsandtherisksforcolocationofaquaculture AT njbeaumont offshorewindenergyassessingtraceelementinputsandtherisksforcolocationofaquaculture AT ahodkin offshorewindenergyassessingtraceelementinputsandtherisksforcolocationofaquaculture |