IMPACTOS AMBIENTAIS NOS PORTOS MARÍTIMOS: água de lastro, sua gestão e formas de tratamento

Abstract

Due to the expansion in maritime traffic, allied to
the growth in vessel dimensions, ballast water is increasingly
introducing alien species into estuarine waters – a process
followed by further environmental disturbances to freshwater
ecosystems, biodiversity and health, alongside economical
losses. Means to avoid such problems in Brazilian waters
have been considered, mainly since the1990s – most usually,
recommended procedures to ship crew or specific legislation.
However, both have been unsuccessful. Consequently,
various treatment methods for ballast water are being
studied, many having resulted either ineffective or
impracticable. This suggests that new measures or treatment processes be well assessed before resources are allocated to adopt them. The paper reports on the ballast-water treatment systems most used or under development. Based on a search through the available literature, conclusions are formulated about the advantages and disadvantages, as well as best situation for application, of these treatment methods, their cost and implantation ease.

Index Terms ⎯ Ship ballast water. Water treatment systems.
Oceanic bioinvasion. Estuary bioinvaders. Golden mussel.